Mueller 4-Stage vs Longzon 4-Stage Sharpener Side-by-Side Comparison
Despite the resemblance they bear to each other, the Mueller and the Longzon actually have very different sharpening styles.
Specifications
Design
Despite its affordable price, the Muller 4-stage sharpener has a strong, solid build, substantial abrasives, and tightly-fitting parts. It has a nice fit and finish and a spacious grip that’s comfortable to the touch. However, a lower working section would offer better control and stability.
The Longzon looks identical to the Mueller handheld sharpener and has a much better build and design than its affordable price suggests. There’s no shoddy parts or gimmicky details — everything fits together securely and seamlessly to serve its purpose.
We also like the device’s substantial size which allows for easy sharpening of larger kitchen knives. The inclusion of the gloves is nice, though we didn’t feel the need to use them.
Usability
Though the Mueller is a bit tall, it offers decent balance and stability. Its large size and substantial abrasives give you a lot of confidence when sharpening. The slot layout could be improved, in our opinion, but it doesn’t pose much of a problem in terms of usability.
The Longzon is straightforward, and there are visual cues on the device if you’re not sure how to use it at first glance. Its large grip and wide working section make sharpening natural and effortless. Though we think a more modest height would make it safer to use, its stability is well above average.
Performance
It won’t make your knife razor-sharp, but the Mueller takes little time getting a dull edge ready for common cutting tasks in the kitchen. Contrary to its twin, the Longzon, however, it eats away the blade and leaves a rough, uneven edge.
The Longzon 4-stage knife sharpener creates one of the finest edges we’ve seen with a device of this type. Unfortunately, the edge’s functionality doesn’t match up with its aesthetics. It only became keen after more than 3 minutes of sharpening, and a prolonged sharpening time didn’t get it much further on the sharpness scale either.
Overall Scores
Pros & Cons
- Strong construction, pretty coloring
- Quick sharpening
- Scissor slot
- Ease of use
- Sleek design
- Substantial, accommodative size
- Fine, smooth knife edge
- Inclusion of protective gloves
- Slot for scissors
- High center of gravity
- Harsh on the knife edge
- Tall base
- Slow sharpening
- Ineffective slot layout
Conclusion
Apart from their logos, the Mueller 4-stage and the Longzon 4-stage sharpeners look identical. They have a robust build and sturdy construction. Both feature three sharpening slots for kitchen knives and one for scissors. Both sharpeners suffer slightly from a high center of gravity.
When put through the test of sharpening, interestingly, the sharpeners garnered very different results. The Mueller compromised the knife’s edge for quick sharpness, while the Longzon prioritized a smooth, shiny edge over sharpening time and serviceability.
In the world of ‘convenience’ manual sharpeners, the one that makes the knife cut first has an edge, so the Mueller seems to be the more practical choice.
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.
