Chef’s Choice 120 vs 130: Which Chef’s Choice Knife Sharpener is the Best?

Welcome to the wonderful world of knife sharpeners! I am sure the fact that you are here means you are in the market for a knife sharpener.

Some may be wondering why a knife sharpener is needed in a kitchen so let’s break that down before we get into the nitty-gritty.

Quick Comparison: Chef’s Choice 120 vs 130

Sharp Vs Dull Knives

It should be a well-known fact that cooking with a sharp knife is safer and more efficient than cooking with a dull knife.

I’m sure that some of you reading this article are thinking “Wait what? Sharper knives are way more dangerous in a kitchen! You could lose a finger!”

While a sharp knife does have a chance to slice your finger along with the ingredients, a chef will have a lot more control over a sharp knife than a dull one.

A sharp blade is predictable. When you slice into a tomato with a sharp knife you know exactly where that blade is at all times and the tomato slice will remain intact and not get squished and make a holy mess of the kitchen.

Sharpeners

Now that we know how important sharp knives are, let’s get into the good stuff! Let’s go over two common knife sharpener models from the brand Chef Choice.

Model 120

Features

• Triple Bevel – Three distinct bevels at different angles on each side of the blade
• 20 Degree Edge – Creates a durable kitchen knife
• Works on single edges knives
• Works with smooth and serrated edges
• EdgeSelect® – allows for you to adjust the way the knife is sharpened depending on the type of knife

Knife Types

• Chef
• Santoku
• Bread
• Hunting
• Fillet
• Pocket

Sharpening Stages

• Stage 1 and 2 – Diamond abrasives to create two distinct bevels
• Stage 3 – Stropping disk to polish and add the third bevel

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Model 130

Features

• Triple Bevel – Three distinct bevels at different angles on each side of the blade
• 20 Degree Edge – Creates a durable kitchen knife
• Stelling Edge – This process will correct all curved edges and put them back into a straight line
• Works on single edges knives
• Works on smooth and serrated edges

Knife Types

• Chef
• Santoku
• Bread
• Hunting
• Fillet
• Pocket

Sharpening Stages

• Stage 1 – Diamond abrasive
• Stage 2 – Steeling
• Stage 3 – Stropping

Comparison

I know some of you are reading this and thinking “These are practically the same thing!” On the surface, yes, they are the same but the devil is in the details!

Here is a handy-dandy chart that can help break down each model and help you chose which is right for you!

While on paper these two models may look the same but there are subtle differences between the two.

According to the Chef Choice website the dimensions are a little different for each model but they are still similar. If colors are important that be aware that some colors are only available for certain models.

The model 120 has a pre-sharpening stage. While this is stage is not typically used every time a knife is sharpened, it is something to consider if this is the first time you will be sharpening these knives.

The 120 also has the EdgeSelect® feature which is helpful to tailor the edge to the type of knife.

The model 130 is more of a professional model. It has that steeling stage and lacks the pre-sharpening stage.

Since the pre-sharpening stage is mainly used for the first time sharpening a knife or when a knife is really dull. This may not be needed in a professional kitchen since knives tend to be sharpened regularly.

Price wise, Chef Choice lists both models in the same price range, which is pretty typical in my opinion for a quality appliance, but this could change depending on where you look.

The model 120 will tend to be less expensive since it is a little more simplistic but if your heart is set on the 130, shop around a bit to find the best prince.

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Final thoughts

In my opinion, I prefer the Model 120 because I like simplicity and do not need a steeled blade for the type of cooking I do.

I don’t typically do a lot of damage to my knife and the ones I own still have the straight point so steeling is not a necessity for me. Keep in mind, I have no color scheme for my kitchen (I admit it’s a hodgepodge of different colors…but hey I’m a home chef I like it that way) so the color of the appliance does not matter to me so much.

The right model for you, however, depends on what your needs are. Are all of the appliances in your kitchen red? Then go for the Model 120, since the 130 does not come in red.

Do your blades need to have that straight point? Get the Model 130 for that steeling blade stage.

Don’t be discouraged by the professional model if you are a home cook, both models will give you a dependable knife to continue your cooking adventure regardless of whether or not you cook at home or in a professional kitchen!