Ask any good chef what is the most important tool to have in the kitchen, and the answer will most likely be a knife. But it has to be a sharp knife. Dull can be dangerous. You could use a sharpening stone, but you had better know what you’re doing or you’ll ruin the edge. So if you’re not so skilled, or even if you are, you might want to try EdgeCraft Corporation’s new Chef’sChoice Diamond Hone AngleSelect Sharpener Model 1520.

It’s a sharpener engineered to put a razor-sharp edge on all quality knives, fine-edge or serrated blades, Antuko and traditional Japanese-style single-bevel edges, the thicker Deba-style blades, sports knives, even pocket knives. All you do is slide your knife into the sharpener and you have an edge that’s a good or better than from the factory. To put it in technical terms, the sharpener has a patented three-stage system, using 100-percent diamond abrasives in the initial stages, and in stage three, “a patented flexible stropping/polishing disk (similar to a barber’s strop) for a super-sharp microscopically flawless polished edge.”

The bottom line: This sharpener takes out all the guesswork or need for skill in sharpening knives. You could probably do the job blindfolded, although that’s not a good idea. It’s not cheap. The suggested retail price is $169.99 to $199.99. But if you want to get serious about knives, this would be a good investment.

Lifestyles reporter Sylvia Anderson may be reached at sylviaanderson@npgco.com