About 10 years ago, I decided that properly sharpening a knife, like driving a stick shift car, field dressing a deer or fileting a fish was just something a man ought to know how to do. I worked at it, read some, worked at it some more, etc until I could lay a razor edge on a knife. I used an arkansas stone for a really beat knife, to get the party started, then moved to an open pattern diamond stone, then to a diamond steel or diamond stick, then last but not least, finished with a leather strop and green compound.
These days I use a Lansky 4-rod deluxe croc stick set for most work, finishing with a strop and green compound. The Lansky system is easier and quicker by far, and with a little finesse, you can alter the angles of the pre-set system (lean into it a bit for a shallower angle, back off a hair for a "club" yer intent on chopping with where ya want to have a really robust edge) and still make short work of any blade, no matter the purpose. With the four rod set, you lay in the main angle with medium sticks, then the actual edge angle with fine sticks, making for a sharp yet robust edge. I'm a chea...., er thrifty sort on stuff like this, but the Lansky deluxe croc stick (4 rod) system is $30 (Amazon) well spent.