Casstrom Leather Field Strop

Casström knives come shaving sharp out of the box and to help maintain that keen edge. They have produced their own range of handcrafted leather strops.

The Field Strop is Casstrom's pocket or pack option and is a handy size to take on outdoor trips. The Paddle Strop has a larger strop area and is perfect for a sharpening session at home or at basecamp. 

What is a strop and why are they useful?

A strop is used to maintain the sharpness of the edge of the knife. They are easy to use, and if you strop every time the knife has been used, the sharpness of the edge is maintained longer. This means that you do not need to sharpen the knife as often with other coarser sharpening tools such as a diamond or whetstone.

You use the strop by placing the edge of the knife against the leather and pulling the knife in the direction of the knife spine (i.e. you pull the blade away from the edge). Repeat the procedure about 20 times on each side.
One side has a rougher surface and the other a finer one. On the coarser side, if you want, you can apply stropping paste for increased sanding effect.