A strop is a small strip of suitable material,
… such as leather (the best), canvas, fabric, balsa wood,
…denim, and so on, that is used to give tool blades a gloss,
…a beautiful polish, or a sharp edge finish.
But do you know the good leather for the strop?
After sharpening, honing, or polishing the cutting edges…
…of your tools, such as chisels and knives,
…with a leather strop gives them a mirror finish.
Gina would tell you something…
Living in a small town has always been my dream…
New York is too hectic, crowded, and overwhelming…
…for an introvert like me. I always seek peace and space.
I am so grateful that my husband has the same vision as me.
He like to be in a room with small amounts of people.
We both love cooking, and we are the butcher at the traditional market.
Since a long time before I finally decided to get to know him,
I observe well how he takes care of the knives very well..
He has this one specific knife sharpener…
One day, it is gone out of sight. He is very confused and sad…
I bet he couldn’t start the day without sharpening the knives.
I immediately offer to lend my knife sharpener to him,
for sure he resists since mine is not as nice as his.
Last month is his 50th birthday, and I can not forget…
…the smile he shows when he received my gift.
I gave him a knife leather strop!
From the story, we knew that a knife leather strop…
…could be so meaningful to someone who like to cook!
So, what’s the good leather for the strop ?
What Is The Good Leather for The Strop ?
Honing or polishing the cutting edges of your tools,
such as your chisels, knives, etc, with the good leather for the strop…
…after sharpening gives them a mirror or glossy finish…
…with an ultra-sharp cutting edge. To help you with…
…the good leather for the strop, I have conducted research.
Is there the a good leather for the strop?
Vegetable-tanned leather is the perfect leather for a strop?
…since other types of leather will require different types of compounds.
Strops are usually made of vegetable tanned leather…
…because it has natural silicates that chemically or…
…oleomally tanned leather does not have.
Following our discussion about the best leather for a strop,
…let’s take a closer look at some particular types of leather,
their qualities, and characteristics that make them ideal for strops.
Types Of Good Leather for The Strop
When it comes to the best leather for a strop,
there are a few options. Here are a few examples
that will suit all your needs and are outstandingly great.
Buffalo Leather
When compared to Latigo leather, buffalo leather..
…includes a higher proportion of silicate and is more lustrous.
If you don’t want to apply any compounds,
- on several country it can become pricy
…buffalo leather is the way to go. Alternatively,
…if you want to put compounds on this sort of leather,
…it’s a terrific option because compounds are really easy to remove.
The English saddle leather is another name for buffalo leather.
The epidermal layer of buffalo leather is three times thicker…
…than that of cowhide, giving it its extraordinary strength and longevity.
Pros:
- Easy to remove compounds.
- Thicker than cowhide
- Strong and durable
Raw Buffalo Leather
A raw buffalo leather strop is another leather appropriate…
…for strops in the buffalo family.
Buffaloes are heavy or dense raw forms.
As buffalo hides are not stretched during tanning, unlike cowhide.
The upside is they are thicker and more resistant to tearing and wear.
Almost every aspect of buffalo leather and buffalo rawhides…
… are the same. The only difference is that it lacks…
..the high gloss finish of buffalo leather due to its dense nature.
Pros :
Thicker, more resistant to tear and wear.
Cons :
It doesn’t shine like the processed buffalo leather
Latigo Leather
- PREMIUM LEATHER STROP: Parker’s American Made straight razor strop is handcrafted from premium-grade Latigo leather, which is an excellent surface for the stropping of straight razors, knives, carpenter tools and other cutlery items. If properly cared for, it will last you a lifetime!
The latigo leather is made from cowhide…
…and is really great for a strop if you’re just starting out...
…with stropping and are not sure or have no experience…
…with using compounds on leather strops.
Latigo is the Spanish word that means “whip”.
Latigo is made using a combination of tanning processes…
…that includes chrome tanning and vegetable tanning respectively.
With both tanning processes combined,
…you can certainly expect nothing less than less durable and supple.
While the latigo leather is really budget-friendly,
…beginner-friendly, and works perfectly for a strop,
the downside to it is that it’s slow and takes a lot more time to complete.
Although the Latigo leather works well without compounds,
…it can also be loaded with compounds to make the stropping process go faster.
When working with latigo leather,
you just apply a layer of compound ranging…
…from two thousand grit to a hundred thousand grit,
…depending on your desire.
The fact that latigo absorbs a lot of the compounds…
…you put on it over time and is difficult to clean…
..is an important feature of using it with chemicals.
Pros :
- Latigo leather is good for knife strop starters,
- Budget-friendly
- Durable and suple.
Cons :
- Take a long time to complete
- Absorbs a lot of compounds, could be difficult to clean
The Equine Leather
- Razor-Sharp Edges: Keep your blades extra sharp with this leather strop for knife sharpening. Use this leather honing strop for knives, axes, gouges, chisels, plane blades, and chefs knives
Equine Non-Shell Cordovan and Equine Shell Cordovan…
…are two types of equine cordovan. The equine leather…
…is divided into two types of shell cordovan:
…non-shell cordovan and equine shell cordovan.
There aren’t many differences between the two sorts…
…of equine leather, we’re looking at here.
The non-shell cordovan leather is a little more matte…
… then the shell cordovan leather,
…which is the most obvious difference between the two.
In addition, the equine non-shell cordovan…
…has the highest silicate content and…
…can be used with or without chemicals.
In other cases, such as with knives and skivers,
…you’ll want a wonderful extra sheen or….
…mirror-like finish on your instruments.
The shell cordovan is an excellent way to get the look you want.
Another fascinating aspect about horse leather…
…is that when you rub it on its flesh side,
…you can feel how harsh it is compared to buffalo…
…and latigo, which makes it ideal for stropping…
…because of its one-directional sandpaper-like texture.
The best part about using equine leather for a strop…
…is the consistent evenness and smoothness…
…you’ll obtain from one edge to the other.
The cowhide and buffalo,
…in contrast to the uneven splotches, will have.
Pros :
- it has a sandpaper-like texture which is good for your knife
- Extra-sheen finish for your knives
Cons:
- blotches, uneven texture.
- Rare to find
Let’s Compare Between The Leathers!
| Image | Brand | Description | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Top | Hutsuls | Hutsuls Brown Leather Strop with Compound - Get Razor-Sharp Edges with Stropping Kit, Green Honing Compound & Vegetable Tanned Two Sided Leather Strop Knife Sharpener Step-by-Step Guide Included | Buy Now | |
 Top
Top
Top | BeaverCraft | BeaverCraft Stropping Leather Strop Kit for Sharpening Knife Strop LS2P1 - Leather Honing Strop 3 x 8 IN - Knives Sharpening with Stropping Set Polishing Compound - Double Sided | Buy Now | |
 | BeaverCraft | BeaverCraft LS6P1 Leather Paddle Honing Strop Kit with Sharpening Polishing Compound 14" x 2" Knife Stropping Paddle Block for Honing Woodworking | Buy Now | |
 | Hutsuls | Hutsuls Double Sided Strop Paddle - Get Razor-Sharp Edges with Knife Strop Kit, Easy to Use Quality Leather Strop Sharpener with Ergonomic Handle & Leather Honing Strop Step-by-Step Guide is Included | Buy Now | |
 | SHAN ZU | SHANZU Leather Sharpening Strop Kit 3" x 8" with Green Polishing Compound Knife Stropping Block for Sharpening and Honing- Knives, Straight Razor, Woodcarving Chisels | Buy Now |
Sum Up
There are three types of leather you can use for stropping…
…a leather made out of buffalo, latigo, and equine leather.
Each one has its owns plus point.
However, so far equine leather strop knives are better than the other two.
Conclusion
Do you have a leather strop for your knife already?
Which one do you like the most?
Share with us your favorite leather-made strop on…
…the comment section below.
Was this helpful?
Hi there! I’m a food enthusiast and journalist, and I have a real passion for food that goes beyond the kitchen. I love my dream job and I’m lucky enough to be able to share my knowledge with readers of several large media outlets. My specialty is writing engaging food-related content, and I take pride in being able to connect with my audience. I’m known for my creativity in the kitchen, and I’m confident that I can be the perfect guide for anyone looking to take their culinary journey to the next level.
