Which Elite Work Sharp System is Right for You?

As someone who’s spent years sharpening knives, both personally and professionally, I've had the opportunity to test just about every kind of sharpening system out there. Work Sharp makes some of the best, and two of their flagship models stand out: the Ken Onion Mk2 Elite and the Professional Precision Adjust Elite. If you’re trying to decide between them, let me break down the key differences and help you figure out which one fits your sharpening style best.

Overview of Each System

Work Sharp Ken Onion Mk2 Elite

The Ken Onion Mk2 Elite is a belt-based, motorized sharpener that offers an incredible amount of control and customization. It’s fast, efficient, and allows for freehand-style sharpening with the Blade Grinding Attachment that mimics professional knife sharpening systems in a more compact form.

It comes with an adjustable-speed motor, a range of abrasive belts, and the Sharpening Cassette is great for fast, controlled guided sharpening. If you enjoy tweaking your edges and want something that can handle a variety of blade shapes plus tools, this is a fantastic option.

Work Sharp Professional Precision Adjust Elite

The Professional Precision Adjust Elite is an adjustable-angle guided knife sharpener. It features a secure clamp system that holds your knife in place, while you manually move through different abrasives, including diamond plates, a ceramic hone, resin-bonded diamond plates and a leather strop.

This system is all about repeatability and attention to detail, if you want a consistent, precise mirror polish edge every time with minimal guesswork, this is the sharpener for you.

Key Differences

Who Should Choose the Ken Onion Mk2 Elite?

If you enjoy hands-on sharpening and want a faster, more flexible system, the Ken Onion Mk2 Elite is for you. It’s great for:

• Fast sharpening.
• Knife enthusiasts who like a convex grind.
• Those who sharpen a variety of tools beyond just knives.
  
• People comfortable with a bit of a learning curve in exchange for versatility.

Personally, I love using the Ken Onion Mk2 Elite when I need to quickly restore an edge or want to play around with different edge geometries. The belt system makes it feel like I’m doing freehand sharpening, but with some built-in guidance. Since it is a belt system, it gives a convex grind, which is a great option for kitchen, pocket and outdoor knives. 

Who Should Choose the Professional Precision Adjust Elite?

If you value precision and repeatability over speed, the Professional Precision Adjust Elite is the better fit. This is the best option for:

• Taking the guesswork out of the sharpening process.
• Sharpening similar sized knives and creating a consistent, sharp edge every time.
• Super steel knives that need the sharpening power of diamonds. 
• Beginners who want an easy-to-use complete sharpening system that doesn’t require freehand techniques.

I use the Pro PA Elite when I need absolute precision, especially on high-end knives. It ensures I’m hitting the exact same angle every time, which is important for maintaining edge longevity. Plus its ability to produce mirror-polish bevels means I can get my favorite knives looking their best, no matter what steel they use. 

Final Verdict – Which One is Right for You?

If you want power, speed, and versatility, go with the Ken Onion Mk2 Elite.

If you prefer consistency, precision, and ease of use, the Professional Precision Adjust Elite is the better choice.

At the end of the day, it comes down to how you like to sharpen. Do you want a machine that gives you room to experiment and work quickly? Or do you want a setup that locks in angles and delivers precision with minimal effort?

Either way, both of these Work Sharp systems are excellent, and you really can’t go wrong.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out, we love talking sharpening!