A Leatherman blade dulls faster than a dedicated knife because it gets used for worse things, and most of them never get sharpened because the tool is awkward on a stone. It is not. This guide covers sharpening each cutting tool on a Leatherman, the plain blade, the serrated blade, the scissors, the saw and the Raptor shears, with the equipment that works and the parts to leave alone.
The plain blade
Open the blade and lock it, hold the tool by the handles, and sharpen it like any knife: 20 degrees per side on a stone, a ceramic rod, or a guided system. 420HC (Wave, Signal, Free) sharpens fast and easy. 154CM (Charge, Skeletool CX) takes longer. MagnaCut (Arc, Wave Alpha) takes longer still and wants diamond or ceramic. Finish on a strop.
The serrated blade
Only the flat side gets a stone. Sharpen the scallops with a tapered ceramic or diamond rod that matches their radius, a few strokes each from the beveled side, then one light pass on the flat side to remove the burr. Do not grind the serrations flat.
The scissors
Leatherman scissors have a bevel on the outside of each blade. Open them wide, run a fine ceramic rod along that bevel a few strokes, and close them on a piece of foil to clean the edge. Never sharpen the inside flat.
The saw
A multitool saw is not worth sharpening tooth by tooth. Clean it, and when it is truly dull, Leatherman's warranty or a replacement is the answer. The Surge's saw is replaceable.
The Raptor shears
Same as the scissors: outside bevel, ceramic rod, foil to finish. Raptor shears see tape and fabric and dull mainly from adhesive; cleaning the blades with alcohol restores most of the cutting.
The Signal's built-in sharpener
The Signal carries a diamond-coated sharpener that folds out of the handle. It is for touching up the blade in the field, not for reprofiling. A few strokes at 20 degrees keeps a 420HC blade usable for a week-long trip.
Frequently asked questions
Can you sharpen a Leatherman?
Yes. Lock the blade open and sharpen it like a knife.
What angle?
About 20 degrees per side.
How do I sharpen the serrated blade?
With a tapered ceramic or diamond rod in each scallop, from the beveled side.
Can I sharpen MagnaCut on a regular stone?
Slowly. Diamond or ceramic is much faster.
Will Leatherman sharpen it under warranty?
Warranty covers defects and repairs, not routine sharpening.
The bottom line
Lock it open, 20 degrees, strop. Rod for the serrations and scissors, alcohol for the Raptor. Then put it back in its sheath.
Related reading
Leatherman MagnaCut explained
Leatherman Signal review
Leatherman Raptor Response review
