diamond stone just because it's the only one that comes close to the stone that i lost. when you sharpen your knife with a stone count your strokes to get it even, or just feel your edge to make sure it's even.you can feel a ridge if it's uneven then just hit the ridge side 1 more time,make sure that your strokes have the same angle. after a few knives you'll get the hang of it. a diamond steel is small enough to carry in your pocket and can be used at any time. wal-mart has one for $4-$5. for skinning, sharpen from the handle to the tip, again count your strokes. for stabbing, sharpen from tip to handle. i lightly feel the edge with my left finger tips because my right hand is more calloused(spelling) than my right. i usually sharpen all the knives at hunting camp, some are harder to sharpen than others and have to be hit with a leatherman file which i've found works best for me. hope this helps