When you first purchase a knife (preferable a victorinox or equivalent) you should make sure you have the right equipment to maintain and sharpen your knife. First of all you'll need a sharpening stone, one with two grades of surfaces, smooth and coarse. Then you will need a sharpening steel to maintain the knifes edge once it has been sharpened. You can either use detergent and water or machine oil as a lubricant while you are using the sharpening stone.

To sharpen your knife hold the knife at approximately 45 degres to the sharpening stone. Then with a little presssure run the knife along the stone, from the heel to the tip. Repeat this 5 times, then turn over the knife and repeat the aforemetioned procedure on the other side on the knife. Once you can see an edge on your knife give your knife a sharpen on the steel using the same method as with the stone.

To sharpen your knife with the steel run the blade of the knife(again from the heel to the tip) along the length of the steel. Keep the knife at the same angle as for sharpening the knife on the sharpening stone, approximately 45 degrees. Then run the other side of the knife down the opposite side of the steel, you should feel and see the angle as you sharpen. Don't worry about being slow just concentrate on the angle, speed will come later with practise. To test to see how sharp your knife is try to cut a sheet of paper or perhaps try cutting some hairs off your arm but don't cut yourself!

You should always store a knife, especially if it is sharp, in some sort of pouch or folder. You can even make one for yourself; all you need is some cardboard and some sticky tape. Just fold some cardboard around your knife and tape it so that the cardboard doesn't unravel. This simple folder will not only prevent you from cutting yourself but it will protect your knife from being damaged. You must take care of your knife once you have sharpened it, never drop it or cut items that are too hard for it. Just use it on meats and vegetables, nothing else, this way your knife will maintain maximum sharpness before you have to sharpen it again.

If you follow these basic steps you are assured of a sharp knife whenever you need one. Remember you can gain a lot from having a sharp knife first and foremost. Gents, you will be in your wife's good books forever. Plus also you'll have learned an art that will save you alot of money in sharpening costs and new knives (you'll be able to dispose of the Wiltshire knives).