A strop block made of red leather from Tärnsjö tannery, mounted on a wooden base crafted from oak, treated with mineral oil and bees wax for protection and fine luster. The strop block shares the same dimensions as Shapton sharpening stones, fitting perfectly into a stone holder. Therefore, it serves as an extra stone that you can quickly and easily use to remove the final burr and achieve a razor-sharp result.

Size:  210 x 70 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight:  210 grams

1. Place the strop in front of you on a non-slip surface or in a sharpening stone holder.

2. Position the knife at the beginning of the strop and push the blade forward. Then, flip the blade and repeat the motion, this time starting at the back with a drawing motion towards you. Do this several times until the edge feels truly sharp.

Note: You should always push the blade away from the edge, unlike a cutting motion.

Ensure you use the same angle as the final edge of the knife. If unsure, a rule of thumb is that Japanese knives typically have an angle of approximately 15 degrees. Also, aim for a consistent stroke.

If you want to go deeper with your stropping, you can saturate the strop with oil, apply a sharpening spray, or use a sharpening paste (such as Autosol or Tormek paste). However, we recommend using the leather without any additives, as they can make it sticky or rigid when drying. Additionally, an overly polished edge will lose bite, quickly feeling slippery on tomatoes. An untreated leather strop can become your best companion for several years, always ready to use with short notice.