You might not think so, but the safest knife is a sharp knife. The duller a knife's blade, the harder you have to work, the more force you have to exert, and the more likely you'll lose control of the blade and nick a finger. Not to mention a dull knife will tear herbs instead of chop, will crush fragile tomatoes instead of slice. A consistent, safe (and satisfying!) kitchen experience requires a sharp knife, a sharp knife requires proper care, and a honing steel can provide that care in just seconds. Regular knife use inevitably causes the blade's edge to curl on the microscopic level, which results in poor performance and more difficult, less safe cuts. Running the blade's length along the grooved edges of a honing steel will re-align the blade to its original sharpness, and using a honing steel regularly as part of food preparation will extend the lifespan of your knives considerably. This honing steel is 17" long with an 12" rod, which is an ideal size for knives up to 12" long. Steel rods pair well with low-hardness or high-carbon knives that aren't brittle, as the hard steel of the rod can chip more brittle steel knives. The textured, ergonomic handle supports both horizontal and vertical grips when honing, and the safety guard keeps fingers protected. When not in use, the rod can be easily hung from its loop for no-hassle storage. SpecificationsDimension: 2" H x 2" W x 17" LWeight: 0.4 lbs