**A Story of Innovation and Determination**

Kostya shares the story of how it all began:

> "One day, a friend showed me a knife that I liked, and I bought one for myself. When I received the knife, I wondered how to sharpen it. I went online to research this question and came across a Chinese metal sharpener. I ordered it from China and successfully sharpened my knife with it. I tried selling the sharpener and managed to do so quickly. We ordered two more; they arrived, we sold them, and this cycle repeated several times. After that, we decided to focus on buying and selling sharpening systems. We soon faced questions about the quality of the stones. At that time, the Apex sharpener (an American plastic model) was popular, accompanied by high-quality stones made in the USA, and everyone strived for that level of quality. However, their cost was high compared to Chinese stones. We aimed to find a middle ground—good quality at an affordable price."

KosiM contacted a factory that produces abrasive tools, ordered a trial batch, tested the stones, adjusted the hardness of the bond, and consulted professional sharpeners. This process took 1.5-2 years. They eventually found a European factory to produce finer grains, achieving quality comparable to a globally renowned American company.

**Customer Focus and Quality Control**

As a customer-oriented company, KosiM listens to their customers and addresses their requests, focusing on eliminating deficiencies. They used higher quality materials, eliminated play where it shouldn't exist, and incorporated magnets into the Apex-type sharpener. This marked the beginning of their own production of Apex-type sharpening systems.

While experimenting with stones, KosiM started collaborating with a Polish manufacturer of high-quality sharpening systems with a rotary mechanism. Despite initial challenges with supply, KosiM now produces systems that hundreds of customers confirm are of exceptional quality.

Since 2016, Marina has been on maternity leave, caring for their child while handling sales, website development, and brand promotion. Kostya finished his last construction project and fully dedicated himself to the production of sharpening systems and stones. Marina handles online activities, while Kostya focuses on development and production, making them a strong team.

**Components and Build Quality**

The system includes:
- A rotary mechanism clamp system with a platform for an angle cube, aluminum stops, and a podium.
- A set of silicon carbide (58-65HRC) and aluminum oxide (52-58 HRC) oil stones on blanks, labeled for convenience.
- Two bottles of abrasive lubricant, formulated for different stones and blade HRC.
- Elbor bar (CBN) for stripping (200/160, 125/100, or 100/80).
- Leather strop on an aluminum blank for removing burrs.
- Wooden boxes for stones (two per box).

The sharpener arrived well-packaged for shipping. For travel, the guide rod were removed, and the clamps were turned backward to make the unit compact. Assembly was easy and could be done using pictures alone.

**Design and Functionality**

Fully assembled, the unit is impressive in size and exudes quality, a testament to KosiM's passion and attention to detail. The stainless steel base is heavy and stable, preventing rocking during sharpening. The height of the podium allows plenty of clearance for sharpening large blades.

The clamp assembly moves smoothly with a satisfying click when it locks into place. Tension is adjustable via the knob on the back, and the clamps can handle knives of various thicknesses and lengths. For smaller blades, KosiM provides "L" adapters to keep angles true. One thumb screw was slightly misaligned but worked as intended.

The pivot shaft is tall, ensuring the unit can handle any knife. The stone thickness compensator doubles as a micro adjustment. The parking hook supports the arm when not in use, a thoughtful addition often overlooked by other manufacturers.

The stone arm has adjustable stops to keep the stone on the blade, preventing edge damage. The stone holder has an adjustable top block and a spring-loaded bottom block to maintain tension. Everything was perfectly dialed in from the factory.

**Performance and Value**

After over a month of use, the KosiM sharpener has become my favorite. Its quality construction and affordable price set it apart. At around $350, it offers excellent value compared to competitors.

The system's precision is impressive, and the included abrasives perform admirably. The aluminum oxide and silicon carbide stones showed minimal wear and provided excellent results. The inclusion of a CBN and a leather strop is a nice touch.

Using oil instead of water was different for me but worked well. It kept the process smooth and helped float steel particles more effectively.

**Conclusion**

The KosiM sharpening system is outstanding in terms of pricing and precision. It's a hidden gem in the world of knife sharpening, deserving more attention. If you're looking for a sharpener to keep your blades in top shape, the KosiM system is an