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Chef's Choice 4643 vs Smith's 50264 Sharpener Side-by-Side Comparison

The Chef’s Choice 4643 can’t quite keep up with the Smith’s 50264 in sharpness, but as far as stability is concerned, it’s the superior choice.

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Chef's Choice 4643

Smith's Adjustable

Chef's Choice 4643 vs Smith's 50264 Sharpener

Overall Verdict

Ranking by
OverallScore Performance50% Design15% Ease of Use35% ScoreOverall 50%Performance 15%Design 35%Ease of Use Chef's Choice 4643Smith's Adjustable6.54.39.38.46.86.07.87.5
Showing: 2/2 Items

Both the Chef's Choice 4643 and the Smith's 50264 sharpener are decent devices, so the choice boils down to your priority: If sharpness is more important, the Smith’s wins by a landslide. If you want something more stable and reliable, the Chef’s Choice is the one to go for.

The Smith’s sharpens much faster and more effectively — it doesn’t take more than a few swipes before your knife becomes highly serviceable. It also offers more choices of grind angle, and thus, covers more types of knives. The problem with it is instability both in the sharpening slots and the device as a whole, which results in damages on the edge and potential mishaps.

The Chef’s Choice doesn’t necessarily create a better edge, but it surely is more reliable in terms of safety. Its wide base, low working section, and substantial grip make it extremely stable and easy to work with. Sharpness isn’t one of its strongest points, but it’s still above average in that respect.

Pros & Cons

  • Works with 20° and 15° edges
  • Compatible with serrated blades
  • Grippy handle
  • Neat, ergonomic overall design
  • Angle-adjustable sharpening 
  • Sharpening slot for serrated blades included
  • Wide slot inserts
  • Replaceable abrasives (sold separately)
  • Expensive price
  • Awkward slot layout
  • Shears off a considerable amount of metal
  • Awkward slot structure
  • Long, narrow base

Key Specs

Stages
2
2
Scissor sharpener
No
No
Abrasives
Diamond discs
Precision-ground carbide, ceramic
Grit size
Coarse, Fine
Coarse, Fine
Dimensions
L9.3 x W2.0 x H2.8 inches
L10.5 x W1.3 x H2.9 inches

Where to Buy

Price at publication
$51.51
$27.38

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Analysis and Test Results

Performance

Overall Performance Scoring
4.3
6.0

Sharpening Time to Cut a Lemon

1.0
8.0
Sharpening Time
4 minutes
1 minute 25 seconds
Cutting Feel
Slightly heavy
Light and smooth

Material Retention

7.0
3.0
A bowl containing metal sharpening residue next to the base of the Chef's Choice AngleSelect sharpener
Metal residue on the Coarse slot of the Smith’s knife sharpener
Metal residue on the Coarse slot of the Smith’s knife sharpener
A bowl containing metal sharpening residue next to the base of the Smith’s 50264 knife sharpener
Sharpening Time
1 minute
1 minute

Maximum Sharpness Achieved

6.0
8.0
Sharpening Time
6 minutes
6 minutes
Sharpness Level
7 (Ripe tomatoes, 1 swipe)
8 (Chicken breast with skin, one swipe)

Edge Smoothness

5.2
4.5
Close up view of the knife blade and edge after sharpening with the Chef's Choice AngleSelect
Close-up view of the knife blade and edge after sharpening with the Smith’s Pull-thru

Design

Overall Design Scoring
9.3
7.8

In the Box

The Chef’s Choice manual knife sharpener next to its plastic case
The Smith’s 50264 Adjustable pull-thru sharpener next to its plastic casing

Dimensions

The Chef's Choice 4643 handheld sharpener with arrows and figures showing its dimensions
The Smith’s adjustable handheld sharpener with arrows and figures showing its dimensions
Length
9.3" (23.6 cm)
10.5" (26.7 cm)
Width
2.0" (5.1 cm)
1.3" (3.3 cm)
Height
2.8" (7.1 cm)
2.9" (7.4 cm)
Weight
6.6 oz (187 g)
8.8 oz (250 g)

Build Quality

9.0
8.2
The Chef’s Choice 4643 sharpener disassembled on a cutting board, with a lemon slice
The Chef’s Choice 4643 sharpener disassembled on a cutting board, with a lemon slice
The Chef’s Choice 4643 sharpener disassembled on a cutting board
The Smith’s Pull-thru sharpener with cover and angle knob detached on a cutting board, and a lemon slice

Working Section

The working section of the Chef's Choice with 3 abrasive slots on a frame and part of its handle and base
Top view of the angle knob on the Smith’s angle adjustable sharpener
Top view of the angle knob on the Smith’s angle adjustable sharpener
The working section of the Smith’s 50264 handheld sharpener, with its Coarse, Serrated, and Fine slots
Levels of Sharpening
Coarse, Fine
Sharpen, Hone/Polish
Abrasive
Diamond-coated disks
Precision-ground carbide, crossed ceramic
Mechanism
Pull through
Pull through
Sharpening Angle
15° & 20°
14°, 16°, 18°, 20°, 22°, 24°

Base

The underneath of the Chef's Choice sharpener
The underneath of the Chef's Choice sharpener
One of the feet underneath the Chef's Choice sharpener
The Smith’s 50264 lying on a surface with its base and base pads in full view
The Smith’s 50264 lying on a surface with its base and base pads in full view
A base pad of the Smith’s sharpener
Material
Synthetic rubber
Rubber
Feet Type
Slip-proof sole (x 4)
Slip-proof soles

Grip

10
6.5
A hand holding the Chef’s Choice manual knife sharpener
A hand holding the Smith’s manual knife sharpener
Material
Rubber
Rubber

Usability

Overall Usability Scoring
8.4
7.5

Slot Arrangement

7.0
7.0
The Chef’s Choice 4643 manual knife sharpener viewed from the side
The working section of the Smith’s 50264, with the angle knob and the Coarse, Serrated, and Fine abrasive slots

Insertion

8.5
10
Close up view of the Chef’s Choice sharpener’s sharpening slots 1, 2, and 3
Close up view of the Chef’s Choice sharpener’s sharpening slots 1, 2, and 3
The working section on the Chef's Choice, with 3 slots featuring diamond-coated abrasive discs
Close-up view of the Coarse slot of the Smith’s sharpener, its blades in full view

Pulling Through

8.5
7.5
One of the abrasive slots on the Chef’s Choice 4643 with cutting marks on it
Close-up view of the Fine slot on the Smith’s pull-thru, with nicks visible on the plastic frame

Stability on a Clean Surface

9.5
7.0
2 hands holding and sharpening a kitchen knife with the Chef's Choice sharpener
A person sharpening a knife with the Smith’s 50264 adjustable knife sharpener

Stability on a Wet and Dirty Surface

7.0
6.0
2 hands holding and sharpening a kitchen knife with the Chef's Choice on a salt-sprinkled countertop
A person sharpening a knife with the Smith’s 50264 Pull-thru sharpener on a salt-sprinkled countertop

Behind the Comparison

Headshot of Anh Ngo
Anh NgoSenior Editorial Director

Anh Ngo is a writer with 9 years experience at different media outlets, covering from public news and events to product testing and analysis. At HealthyKitchen101, she works across different departments, communicating closely with its network of writers, editors, and health, tech, and search engine experts to provide a meaningful and pleasant reading experience for visitors.

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Lap VoTest Lead

Lap is Head of the Research, Testing, and Review Team (RTR Team) at HealthyKitchen101.com, where he directs and supervises the testing of kitchen gadgets and appliances.

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Nguyen NtkVisual Specialist

Nguyen Ntk is a graphic designer, photographer, and videographer whose philosophy centers around respecting and celebrating the beauty of reality. Through his lenses, Nguyen strives to capture the true essence of objects and events, showcasing and highlighting authentic features without distortion or exaggeration.

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