Abstract: A sharpening apparatus (16) for a blade-like cutting implement. The sharpening apparatus has an elongate body (18) and a cutting edge extending widthwise across one end of the body (11) at a predetermined angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the body (11). The cutting edge is formed by an inclined face formed on one side face of the body. The apparatus includes a cradle (26) for holding a blade-like implement to be sharpened and a mounting body for mounting the cradle (26) relative to a grinding surface. The cradle is mounted on a pair of guide rails (22, 24) for movement along a rectilinear path, the cradle including first and second rail followers slidably connected to a first and second of the guide rails respectively. The cradle (26) includes a seat for locating the blade-like implement at a reselected reference position on the cradle (26) such that the cutting edge of the implement to be sharpened is located parallel to said rectilinear path.