After I purchased my first knife, I took it to a professional knife sharpener.
Learned his method using stones.
From that time on, my favorite hobby was sharpening knives, axes, lawn mower blades, archery blades, fishing hooks, among others.
My great joy is sharpening inexpensive knives. I haven't lost an expensive knife in forty years.
A tri-stone arkansas stones is my favorite . Better than the knives.