Knife sharpener systems and methods are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a knife sharpening system can include a housing configured to receive a knife blade at a proximal end thereof and a sharpening element movably mounted to the housing and configured to sharpen a cutting edge of a knife blade by moving relative to the housing along and against a cutting edge of a knife blade disposed in the housing. The knife sharpening system can include an access door pivotally coupled to a distal end of the housing and configured to allow access to the sharpening element to allow removal of at least a portion of the sharpening element.