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Gorilla Grip vs Longzon 4-stage Side-by-Side Comparison

Anh Ngo
Reviewer
Nguyen Ntk
Visual Specialist
Updated
Tested Using Methodology v1.1
Updated Mar 31, 2023
Tested Using Methodology v1.1
Updated Mar 31, 2023
The Gorilla Grip manual knife sharpener on a cutting board, its package box, chilli peppers, carrot, tomato slices
The Longzon 4-stage knife sharpener on a cutting board, kitchen knife, chilli peppers, carrot slices, tomato slices
Knife Sharpeners type
manual
manual

Our Verdict

7.5
Overall Score
  • Performance (50%)
    6.5/10
  • Design (15%)
    8.8/10
  • Ease of Use (35%)
    8.3/10
7.0
Overall Score
  • Performance (50%)
    5.6/10
  • Design (15%)
    9.1/10
  • Ease of Use (35%)
    8.2/10

The Gorilla Grip and the Longzon 4-stage sharpeners both enjoy a decent build, with the latter having a better fit and finish. However, their actual performances couldn’t have been more different.

The Gorilla Grip excelled in speed and sharpness but forwent the actual quality of the knife’s edge. It shaved off the steel like no other, leaving the edge jagged and wavy. The Longzon was the opposite: It took more than double the time to sharpen to the designated keenness level and could only reach a sharpness level one below its competitor's best but material retention and edge aesthetics proved to be top-notch.

In the end, because keenness and speed are more important factors than edge integrity in a handheld sharpener, the Gorilla Grip ended up with a higher overall score.

Gorilla Grip Kitchen Knife Sharpener’s Performance

Longzon 4-stage Manual Knife Sharpener’s Performance
6.5
Performance Scores
  • Sharpening Time to Cut a Lemon (35%)7.6/10
  • Maximum Sharpness Achieved (20%)8.0/10
  • Edge Smoothness (20%)5.0/10
  • Material Retention (25%)5.0/10
5.6
Performance Scores
  • Sharpening Time to Cut a Lemon (35%)1.0/10
  • Maximum Sharpness Achieved (20%)6.0/10
  • Edge Smoothness (20%)9.0/10
  • Material Retention (25%)9.0/10
7.6

Sharpening Time to Cut a Lemon

1.0
  • Sharpening Time: 1 minute 30 seconds
  • Cutting Feel: Swift and smooth

We spent 15 seconds on the Prepare slot, 1 minute on the Sharpen slot, plus 15 seconds on the Polish slot. The dull test knife came out keen enough to slice through the lemon without us applying significant force. 

If you’re in a hurry, five or six swipes on the second slot should be enough to bring a regular chef’s knife to serviceable sharpness.

  • Sharpening Time: 3 minutes 10 seconds
  • Cutting Feel: Swift and smooth

The Longzon sharpener was disappointing in this test: It took 190 seconds on average to sharpen a dull knife to the level where it can slice a lemon with ease. Three minutes doesn’t seem so long, but when you’re repeating a motion on a small device, it can feel like an eternity.

Unlike the case with the Mueller, the tungsten carbide blades on this device offer a tight and steady brace. For some reason unknown to us, the knife edge just didn’t get keen quickly enough with it.

8.0

Maximum Sharpness Achieved

6.0
  • Sharpening Time: 6 minutes
  • Sharpness Level: 8 (chicken breast with skin, 1 swipe)

We spent a total of 5 minutes on the tungsten carbide blades and 30 seconds on each of the remaining stages. 

The Gorilla Grip sliced through ripe tomatoes and chicken breasts with skin with minimal resistance, though the slippery chicken skin did slow it down a bit. It took two to three rather heavy swipes to sever a piece of beef tendon. However, at this sharpness level, your knives shouldn’t have a problem performing most cutting tasks.

  • Sharpening Time: 6 minutes
  • Sharpness Level: 7 (ripe tomatoes)

We doubled the time in the lemon-cutting test and the Longzon sharpener could only up the knife sharpness by one level. It cut through a ripe tomato effortlessly, and took two forceful swipes to sever the tough skin on a chicken breast. This isn’t a bad performance, per se, but we had expected more from the sharpener as it looks so well-made.

5.0

Edge Smoothness

9.0
Close up view in vignette of the knife blade and edge after sharpening with the Gorilla Grip

Despite their substantial size, the ceramic rods in the Polish slot did not seem to help with smoothening and polishing the knife edge.

The aggressive removal of steel is evident on the knife’s edge — the tungsten carbide blades created small but deep waves along it. These waves should not have any negative effect on your cutting experience, but they are unsightly and will bother you if you’re a knife connoisseur. 

Also, if your knife is made of a particularly hard steel, the uneven thickness of the edge may make it more prone to chipping.

Longzon Knife Sharpener Edge Smoothness

We couldn’t be more impressed when we saw the knife edge after sharpening with the Longzon. It’s smooth, shiny, and balanced between the two sides — common among electric sharpeners, but a rare thing to see with manual pull-through devices. We can’t quite explain the lack of chips, grains, or unfinished shavings — we didn’t need a magnifier to see them on the edge produced by its identical cousin, the Mueller. 

At any rate, if a clean, perfect edge is what you’re after in a handheld sharpener, the Longzon should be among your top choices.

5.0

Material Retention

9.0
Metal residue on an abrasive slot on the Gorilla Grip knife sharpener
Metal residue on an abrasive slot on the Gorilla Grip knife sharpener
A bowl containing metal sharpening residue next to the base of the Gorilla Grip sharpener
  • Sharpening Time: 1 minute
  • Target Sharpness:

The Gorilla Grip is aggressive: It removed a great amount of metal off the blade during the one minute we sharpened the knife with it. The Prepare slot doesn’t seem to do too much to minimize the peeling during the next stage. 

Given how quickly the device sharpens, we don’t recommend more than a few swipes on the Sharpen slot unless your knife is really dull.

Metal residue in the sharpening slots of the Longzon knife sharpener
Metal residue in the sharpening slots of the Longzon knife sharpener
The Longzon household knife sharpener next to a bowl containing metal dust residue
  • Sharpening Time: 1 minute
  • Target Sharpness:

On most devices that employ tungsten carbide blades as the sharpening ‘abrasive’, the more material they remove, the quicker they work and the sharper the edge. The Longzon is not an exception. It took more than 3 minutes to produce a keen edge, so it’s not a complete surprise that it only removed a moderate amount of material from the edge in 1 minute.

Gorilla Grip’s Design

Longzon 4-stage Knife Sharpener’s Design
8.8
design Scores
  • Build Quality (75%)8.5/10
  • Grip (25%)9.5/10
9.1
design Scores
  • Build Quality (75%)9.1/10
  • Grip (25%)9.0/10

What’s in the Box With the Gorilla Grip Kitchen Knife Sharpener

What’s in the Box With the Longzon 4-stage Manual Knife Sharpener
The Gorilla Grip sharpener on top of its package box with the instruction manual on the left side
  • Gorilla Grip sharpener
  • Care and use instructions

The Gorilla Grip sharpener comes in a neat cardboard box with detailed instructions on how to use and maintain it. The Amazon photos really don’t do it justice: The actual device looks much sleeker, and the almond color is lighter too. It’s also easy to find your favorite color among its nine color options.

The Longzon knife sharpener lying next to its package box, instruction leaflet, and two gloves
  • The Longzon 4-stage knife sharpener 
  • Instruction manual
  • Protective gloves 

The Longzon sharpener comes in a nice cardboard box with lots of instructions and contact information printed on it. Then there’s a leaflet that features the instructions in five different languages. Two thin gloves are included in the package, presumably for protecting your hands during sharpening, though this is mentioned nowhere in the manual.

Dimensions

The Gorilla Grip handheld sharpener with arrows and figures showing its dimensions
  • Length:
    7.9" (20.1 cm)
  • Width:
    1.9" (4.8 cm)
  • Height:
    3.0" (7.6 cm)
  • Weight:
    6.6 oz (187 g)

The Longzon household sharpener with arrows and figures showing its dimensions.
  • Length:
    9.3" (23.6 cm)
  • Width:
    1.8" (4.6 cm)
  • Height:
    3.1" (7.9 cm)
  • Weight:
    8.7 oz (246 g)

8.5

Build Quality

9.1
The Gorilla Grip sharpener lying on a surface, with its base visible

The Gorilla Grip has a better build than what its price suggests: It’s neat, weighted, and substantial, with parts fitting together firmly and seamlessly. Although the working section is removable, it feels like one piece with the rest of the device.

The minus points are due to its bumpy base and rubber pads, which could use better fitting and gluing. Also, the device’s exterior doesn’t feel as soft and comfy as those of its brethrens, the Kitchellence and the Amesser, but this aspect is negligible. The lack of a name or logo is surprising but doesn’t affect the overall quality in any way.

The Longzon sharpener standing on a surface

The Longzon sharpener has a strong build with quality materials and a robust design. Its working section, handle, and base are securely attached to each other, which helps with stability during sharpening. The design is function-oriented, but everything has a nice, flush finish. We couldn’t expect better, especially for its price.

Gorilla Grip Manual Knife Sharpener’s Working Section

The Longzon Scissors and Knife Sharpener’s Working Section
The working section of the Gorilla Grip with 3 abrasive slots on a frame and part of its handle and base
The working section of the Gorilla Grip with 3 abrasive slots on a frame and part of its handle and base
The Gorilla Grip’s diamond-coated rod abrasives
The Gorilla Grip’s tungsten blade abrasives
The Gorilla Grip’s ceramic rod abrasives
  • Levels of Sharpening:
    Prep, Sharpen, Polish
  • Abrasive:
    Diamond rods, tungsten carbide blades, ceramic rods
  • Mechanism:
    Pull through
  • Sharpening Angle:
    20 degrees

The working section of the Gorilla Grip features three sharpening slots that repair, sharpen, and polish your blade. Its sharpening rods are larger than those on other devices, such as the Cubikook or the Wamery. The working section sits securely on a rather tall, but heavy, heel and enjoys reasonable stability.

This part is removable and replaceable in theory, though we couldn’t find a place that sells it separately online.

Longzon Knife Sharpener Working Section
  • Levels of Sharpening:
    Sharpen, Hone, Polish
  • Abrasive:
    Tungsten carbide blades, diamond rods, ceramic rods
  • Mechanism:
    Pull through
  • Sharpening Angle:
    20 degrees

The working section features one slot for scissors and three for kitchen knives. Instead of a prep slot, you start sharpening your knives with the tungsten blades and use the diamond and ceramic rods for further honing.

The whole working section is covered with stainless steel, making it easy to clean should the need arise.

9.5

Grip

9.0
The Gorilla Grip sharpener standing on a surface
  • Material:
    Thermoplastic rubber

The grip of this device is very comfortable, thanks to its decent size, ergonomic shape, and quality material. Though not a closed loop, the handle forms a hook so that you can hang it near your countertop for quick retrieving. 

There’s little to complain about the grip, though we thought a bigger foot would be better for stability.

Longzon Knife Sharpener Grip
  • Material:
    ABS, TPR

The Longzon has a nice, substantial grip. There’s plenty of space for larger hands or for those who want their gripping hand to be as far away from the knife as possible while sharpening.

The upper side of the grip is a plastic that’s very soft to the touch and has decent friction. The lower side features finger nubs for a firmer grip.

Base

The Gorilla Grip’s base and base pad
The Gorilla Grip’s base and base pad
The Gorilla Grip’s base and base pad at the handle
  • Material:
    rubber
  • Feet Type:
    non-slip pad

The Gorilla Grip has textured rubber pads underneath it to enhance friction against the countertop. The pads don’t fit into their designated slots very well, though we think that’s more a problem of aesthetics than functionality. 

The real problem is that when standing, only a part of the bigger pad is in contact with the countertop, which means it’s not completely flat. We’re not sure if it’s the pad, the base, or the glue that attaches them that has uneven thickness, but this factor noticeably reduces the device’s stability.

The Longzon sharpener lying on a surface with its base in full view
The Longzon sharpener lying on a surface with its base in full view
Part of the base of the Longzon manual knife sharpener
  • Material:
    ABS
  • Feet Type:
    EVA feet

The Longzon has a red ABS base that makes it look like a Louboutin shoe. It tapers from the working section downwards, but the base size is sufficient to keep the device in place. 

It boasts two flat, but effective, anti-slip pads underneath the working section and the grip.

Ease of Use

Gorilla Grip Manual Knife Sharpener Review

Longzon Manual Knife Sharpener Review: Ease of Use
8.3
usability Scores
  • Slot Arrangement (10%)10/10
  • Insertion (20%)9.0/10
  • Pulling Through (10%)8.5/10
  • Stability on a Clean Surface (40%)8.0/10
  • Stability on a Wet and Dirty Surface (20%)7.0/10
8.2
usability Scores
  • Slot Arrangement (20%)7.0/10
  • Insertion (20%)9.0/10
  • Pulling Through (10%)8.0/10
  • Stability on a Clean Surface (40%)8.5/10
  • Stability on a Wet and Dirty Surface (10%)8.0/10
10

Slot Arrangement

7.0
The working section on the Gorilla Grip, with 3 slots featuring diamond rods, tungsten carbide blades, ceramic rods

With three working slots progressing from left to right, the Gorilla Grip doesn’t require a good memory or logical skills to work with. The function of each of the slots is also engraved right next to it, so even first-time users should have no problem working out the order.

The working section on the Longzon handheld sharpener, with 1 slot for scissors and slots 2, 3, 4 for knives

The Longzon’s layout of sharpening slots is identical to the Mueller, and in our experience, not ideal. We’d rather move Slot 3 (diamond rods) to the front of the row to serve as a prep slot.

Otherwise, the arrangement is simple and easy to work with — all the slots have the same grind angle and are designed for the same types of knife edge. The natural progression of coarseness (or fineness) level means you never have to pause halfway through in fear of going the wrong way.

9.0

Insertion

9.0
Top view of a knife being sharpened with the Gorilla Grip, the sharpener being held in one hand

Its slot openings are wide and at a reasonable distance from each other, so it was easy to place the knife in the right slot with the Gorilla Grip.

Top view of a kitchen knife being sharpened using the Longzon with 2 hands holding them

Insertion was easy with the Longzon: Its wide slots with a neat design offer enough space for the blade to get in without obstruction. You may cut into the wall if you go too fast, but that should be rare.

8.5

Pulling Through

8.0
Two hands holding and sharpening a kitchen knife with the Gorilla Grip sharpener

Similar to the Kitchellence and the Amesser, the Gorilla Grip’s solid body structure makes pulling the knife through its slots a breeze: It was easy for us to apply a steady force from the knife’s heel to its top. The friction was just right at every point along the blade. The knife did cut into the plastic parts of the sharpener at times, but it happened less often than with other devices.

A kitchen knife being sharpened with the Longzon, and the 2 hands that hold the knife and the sharpener

With the U-shaped plastic frame placed too close to the sharpening rods, we ended up cutting into them after almost every swipe. Even a few more millimeters would avoid this. But other than that minor annoyance, the Longzon offers a great sharpening experience. Its blades and rods provide a steady brace with decent and stable friction that’s evident in the near-perfect knife edge it creates. It’s also effortless to keep the blade straight during sharpening — we never ended up with an uneven edge, as was the case with its Mueller counterpart.

8.0

Stability on a Clean Surface

8.5
2 hands holding and sharpening a kitchen knife with the Gorilla Grip sharpener on a countertop

The Gorilla Grip’s base isn’t completely flat, so it wobbled as we pushed it lightly while it was placed on a table. It also has a high center of gravity and a tapered heel — big no-nos — but to some extent, the heavy weight makes up for that.

A hand holding the Longzon on a kitchen countertop and sharpening a knife with it.

Even though the base is tapered, it’s still large enough to support the sharpener. The rubber pads offer good contact areas and great friction, so the device wouldn’t slip on a countertop. We didn’t have to use excessive force to keep it steady during sharpening, just a firm grip.

7.0

Stability on a Wet and Dirty Surface

8.0
2 hands holding and sharpening a kitchen knife with the Gorilla Grip on a salt-sprinkled countertop

The slippery cooking oil and salt on the countertop didn’t seem to affect the device’s stability to a great extent. Neither did the salt pose much of a challenge to the textured rubber feet.

A kitchen knife being sharpened with the Longzon on a countertop with salt particles

The slippery countertop wasn’t much of a challenge for the Longzon either. It did glide a bit when we intentionally used more force to sharpen, but it fared well most of the time.