How to Strop a Knife

Stropping a blade can give a knife a razor-sharp gleam.

Knives are practical, simple tools that can be used for a variety of applications. To keep your knife effective make, sure the blade stays sharp. You can easily sharpen your knife by running the edge along a sharpening stone, or whetstone. After you've sharpened your knife, stropping it can give the blade a final razor-sharp gleam. This process is similar to sharpening a knife and takes only a few minutes.

Things You'll Need

• Knife
• Leather strip treated with an abrasive
• Table

Instructions

1. Attach your leather strip to the edge of a table. The strip should be "charged with some kind of abrasive like stropping paste or green chromium oxide," according to the website, www.knifeart.com.

2. Place the blade on the strip, keeping the edge of the knife against the leather.

3. Push firmly and slide the blade spine first with the edge trailing.

4. When you get to the end of the strip, lift the blade straight off the leather, so you do not round the edge.

5. Repeat this process nine or 10 times before flipping the blade over and following the same steps for the other side.

Tips & Warnings

• Knives can be dangerous, so keep the blade away from your body to avoid getting cut.

References

• E-Scoutcraft: Strop
• Knife Art: Sharpening FAQ by Joe Talmadge