Naniwa Chosera SS-3000

This stone shows up in two places on our list, the mid and upper budget sets, for good reason: 3000 grit is the bridge between coarse sharpening and polishing. You don't have to jump straight from 1000 to 8000, which would be a noticeable gap. The 3000 makes that transition much smoother.

Like the SS-1000, it's splash-and-go, no soaking, straight to work.

Good for: a mid-step in your progression if you already own a 1000 and an 8000, or as a standalone finishing stone if you don't need mirror polish, just a really good working edge.

Pros:

• Works both as a bridging stone and standalone
• Splash-and-go, no waiting around
• Makes the jump between grits much more pleasant

Cons:

• If all you want is a quick sharp kitchen knife with no interest in polish, you can skip this step entirely, it's more for people who enjoy the process, not just the result

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