Which end of the sharpening stone should the heel be placed toward?

• A. Lower end of the stone
• B. Center of the stone
• C. Left edge of the stone
• D. Upper end of the stone

Answer: (D)

Sharpening with a full, controlled stroke means you want to start at the heel and move across the entire length of the blade as you work. Placing the heel toward the upper end of the stone positions the thickest part of the blade at the far side so you can begin on the stone and guide the edge all the way to the tip without the edge running off early. This helps maintain a consistent angle and creates an even bevel along the whole edge. If the heel were placed toward another end, you risk losing contact with the stone too soon or unevenly sharpening part of the edge, which leads to an inconsistent finish.