The Lansky Tactical Sharpening Rod answers the call for a military-tough knife sharpening tool that combines the speed of Lansky's proven tungsten carbide sharpeners with the compact convenience of our retractable diamond rod. Keep it with you at all times for fast blade maintenance as the need arises. The tungsten carbide is used for quickly setting an edge and restoring a severely damaged or dull blade. The diamond rod will then refine the edge. For regular maintenance, the diamond rod alone is sufficient.