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.
Specifications
Design
This is the aspect where the Chef’s Choice 4643 really lives up to the brand’s reputation. The sharpener is well-built, ergonomic, and a delight to work with.
The Smith’s Pull Thru sharpener is made with decent materials and enjoys a nice fit and finish. Unfortunately, it suffers from poor design, in particular an elevated working section and a long and narrow base.
Usability
The Chef’s Choice 4643 is one of the safest and most comfortable sharpeners to use. Just make sure you do not sharpen in the wrong slot.
On the whole, the Smith’s Pull-Thru was one of the most versatile and convenient handheld sharpeners we’d experimented with so far. However, it was due to two major flaws that some points were docked away: the odd sharpening order and the feeling of unsteadiness.
Performance
The Chef’s Choice 4643 gave a subpar performance both in speed and sharpness level. It did not shave off too much steel, but it did not really do anything to the knife’s primary edge either.
The Smith’s Pull-Thru pulled off good grades when it came to sharpening time and maximal keenness. However, it failed to replicate the same success for other aspects.
Overall Scores
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
Conclusion
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.
Behind the Comparison
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.
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.
