A blade-sharpening device including a plate having a base and a raised feature. At least one force applicator applies force to a blade placed over the plate deflecting the front and back of the blade toward the plate. A gap may be maintained between the front of the blade and the plate. A blade sharpening system including a blade to be sharpened associated with a support plate. The blade is pre-tensioned over a contact position on the plate. The system includes a sharpening surface for contacting a surface of the blade while the blade is held in a pre-tensioned position. A method of sharpening a blade by providing a blade to be sharpened attached to a surface of the blade to a sharpening surface.