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Six accessories: two ways to maintain an edge, two shears and two bamboo board sizes.
The catalog offers two tools for keeping knives working, and they do different jobs. A sharpening steel realigns an edge that has rolled over from use. A sharpener removes metal and creates a new edge. One is weekly maintenance, the other is what happens when maintenance stops working.
Neither touches a serrated blade. Chicago Cutlery states that sharpeners are not for use on scalloped or serrated edges, which covers every bread knife and most steak knives in the range.
Two ways to maintain an edge, two shears and two bamboo board sizes.
Stainless rod with a walnut handle, medium grit, model CL38WP. Realigns plain edges between sharpenings. The handle matches the Walnut Tradition knives. The listing gives a unit count of two without describing a second item.
Two slots: coarse grit to reshape a damaged edge, fine grit to finish it. A suction base holds the unit to the counter so both hands stay free.
Stainless steel blades with a forged bolster and polymer handles. Red finish.
The larger of the two boards, reversible, 5 pounds. Doubles as a serving and transport board.
0.75 inches thick with a juice groove around the perimeter for roasts and anything that releases liquid.
Two pairs with soft-grip plastic handles, stainless blades and a bottle opener in the handle. Ambidextrous.
Both are in the catalog and they are not alternatives to each other.
The sharpening steel does not sharpen. It straightens an edge that has bent microscopically during use, which restores cutting performance without removing steel. Used regularly it delays actual sharpening for months. It works on plain edges only.
The dual-stage sharpener removes metal. The coarse slot reshapes an edge that is genuinely dull or chipped, the fine slot polishes what the coarse slot left. Used often it shortens the life of a blade, because every pass takes steel away.
The practical order is the steel every few uses and the sharpener when the steel stops helping.
Several block sets in this catalog have a sharpener built into the block, and Fusion, the 16-piece Avondale and Armitage ship a separate sharpening steel with the set. Check what came with the block before buying either of these.
Two sizes, both bamboo, both from the Woodworks line.
The 12 × 16-inch board is 0.75 inches thick and has a juice groove. That groove is the difference: it catches what runs off a rested roast instead of letting it reach the counter.
The 14 × 20-inch board is reversible and weighs 5 pounds. It covers most of a standard counter section and is large enough to break down a chicken without pushing trimmings off the edge.
Bamboo sits between plastic and hardwood in hardness. It is harder on an edge than end-grain maple and gentler than glass or stone, which should never be used as a cutting surface at all.
Two options with different purposes.
| Model | Type | Size | Detail | Material |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walnut Tradition 10-Inch Sharpening Steel | Sharpening steel | 10-inch rod | Walnut | Stainless steel |
| Dual Stage Knife Sharpener | Knife sharpener | 10.5 × 4.75 × 1.75 in | Plastic | Two-stage abrasive |
| Deluxe Kitchen Shears, Red | Kitchen shears | One pair | Polymer | Stainless steel |
| Woodworks 14 × 20-Inch Bamboo Cutting Board | Cutting board | 14 × 20 in | Reversible, 5 lb | Bamboo |
| Woodworks 12 × 16-Inch Bamboo Cutting Board | Cutting board | 12 × 16 in, 0.75 in thick | Juice groove | Bamboo |
| Soft Grip Kitchen Shears, 2-Pack | Kitchen shears | Two pairs | Soft grip plastic | High-carbon stainless steel |
The steel realigns an edge that has rolled over and removes almost no metal. The sharpener grinds a new edge and removes metal every time it is used. The steel is routine maintenance; the sharpener is what to reach for when the steel no longer restores the cut.
No. Chicago Cutlery states that sharpeners are not for use on scalloped or serrated edges. This applies to the bread knives and to most steak knives in the range.
Chicago Cutlery calls its edge geometry Taper Grind. Several product listings specify a 26-degree taper. The manufacturer describes it as a narrower grind that holds an edge and re-sharpens more easily than a standard bevel.
The 12 × 16-inch board has a juice groove and suits meat that has rested. The 14 × 20-inch board is reversible and gives more working room for breaking down whole poultry or prepping several items at once.
The listings do not publish dishwasher guidance for either board. Bamboo is a wood product, and the manufacturer's knife warranty specifically excludes boards.
Yes. The CL38WP steel has the same walnut handle, and it is the only accessory in the catalog finished to match a knife line.
The Walnut Tradition sharpening steel is the most reviewed accessory in the range.
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