I collect knives and have had a few sharpeners. I like to keep my knives as sharp as i can. What would be the best sharpener to do this? I have both serrated and straight edge blades. Most of my blades cost from -0 so i don’t want a cheep sharpener that would destroy the blade.
@Cane Toad Mutiny Yes i know a true knife collector keeps them mint condition, but for me if you own something like a knife or gun you should have it in top performance just in case you need it one of these days.

I’ve had a SOG SEAL Team Elite utility knife for a while now and have made pretty good use of it… however, the blade is now pretty dull (only the straight edge though, the serrations are still sharp) and it needs sharpening. I am just worried that I’ll mess up the blade if I use any old stone to sharpen it because SOG brags that their knives are made of AUS-8 steel that is heat and cryo-treated so they’re extremely durable and hard. To me, this sounds like a diamond stone isn’t hard enough to sharpen the blade and that I may need to send it in to be professionally sharpened with a laser or something. But I really don’t have that good of a clue… so do you think I can use just a regular stone to sharpen the knife or not?

So far I’ve got three in mind but none of them have really sold me yet. In no particular order:
1: KA-BAR Fighting Knife (straight edge)
2: Cold Steel SRK
3: Gerber LMF 2
The ka-bar knife looks to be really sturdy and is time tested, but with a 7” blade, it’s kind of big not to mention bulky. The SRK is almost indestructible (so I hear), but it too, is also a bit too big. The LMF 2 would really be a dream choice if it weren’t for the partially serrated edge. And at just under a blade length of 5”, the size is just right. Are there any other knives that came close. Preferred specs:
1: Blade length around 5”
2: Reasonably compact
3: Straight edge
4: Sturdy
5: Sharp (really shouldn’t have to mention this but whatever)
6: Less then

P.S. Does anyone know of a good reason for having a half serrated blade? I think it was built into the LMF 2 to cut thin metal, but I would think that would damage the blade. Not to mention it’s a sharpening nightmare.
Btw, I’m only looking for a fixed blade, not a folder. Something to complement my Leatherman Wave.