Abstract: An apparatus for the manual sharpening of blades of cutting tools, includes at least two sharpening elements each with at least one sharpening edge, wherein the sharpening elements can be disposed to be partially overlapping, and partially in contact with each other, such that in a first state, one sharpening edge of each of the first and the second sharpening elements defines a first and a second currently used sharpening edge, respectively, and these sharpening edges cross one another at a crossing point and form a V-shaped gap with an angle, into which the cutting tool blade is inserted. The first and second sharpening elements can be shifted with respect to each other while maintaining the angle, such that the crossing point is shifted along the first and/or second currently used sharpening edge, and the at least positionings of the sharpening elements with respect to one another are reversibly fixed.