A bark-tanned bovine leather strop is the classic final step in a knife sharpening session - a dense, flat surface that removes the fine wire edge, aligns the apex, and brings the knife from sharp to cutting-sharp. The Richmond bovine strop measures 3 inches x 11 inches in bark-tanned leather with a magnetic backing that attaches to the Richmond strop base. The 11-inch length covers full-sized kitchen knives without repositioning.
Use plain leather for final edge alignment after finishing stones, or load the surface with diamond paste or CBN spray for a more aggressive compound finishing step. Bark-tanned leather is denser than chrome-tanned and provides better compound retention and more consistent edge feedback. The magnetic backing swaps in and out of the Richmond base cleanly, making it easy to use alongside balsa, denim, or kangaroo strops in a multi-stage finishing sequence.
What Customers Are Saying: Eleven reviewers. John Arnett pairs this strop with 5 micron paste and reports a highly polished blade as a result - the knife guards he also purchased keep his bag safe during transport. Daniel Rodriguez is on his second bovine strop after cutting into the first one during sharpening, and calls the leather hard enough to avoid unintentional edge convexing while still being soft enough to conform to the knife geometry and deliver excellent results.
Care Instructions: Load with stropping compound as needed. Use edge-trailing strokes only - never push the edge forward into the leather. Wipe excess compound periodically. Store flat. The leather will darken and develop a patina with use - this is normal.
Use plain leather for final edge alignment after finishing stones, or load the surface with diamond paste or CBN spray for a more aggressive compound finishing step. Bark-tanned leather is denser than chrome-tanned and provides better compound retention and more consistent edge feedback. The magnetic backing swaps in and out of the Richmond base cleanly, making it easy to use alongside balsa, denim, or kangaroo strops in a multi-stage finishing sequence.
What Customers Are Saying: Eleven reviewers. John Arnett pairs this strop with 5 micron paste and reports a highly polished blade as a result - the knife guards he also purchased keep his bag safe during transport. Daniel Rodriguez is on his second bovine strop after cutting into the first one during sharpening, and calls the leather hard enough to avoid unintentional edge convexing while still being soft enough to conform to the knife geometry and deliver excellent results.
Care Instructions: Load with stropping compound as needed. Use edge-trailing strokes only - never push the edge forward into the leather. Wipe excess compound periodically. Store flat. The leather will darken and develop a patina with use - this is normal.
- Brand: Richmond
- Material: Bark-Tanned Bovine Leather
- Dimensions: 3 in x 11 in
- Backing: Magnetic
- Compatible: Richmond Strop Base
- Use With: Plain leather, diamond paste, or CBN spray
Knife guards and 3x11 strop Bovine strop 3x11 InchPosted By: Daniel Rodriguez - verified customer
15 people found this review helpful
This is the second bovine strop I bought from mark because my other one was cut into pretty badly but there is nothing bad to say about this strip it's hard enough to not accidentally put a overly convex edge on your knives but still soft enough to take the geometry of your knife and it works great by itself and especially when loaded with 1 micron elmision it puts a hair shaving sharp edge on it and quickly touches up my aogami super and white
15 people found this review helpful
This is the second bovine strop I bought from mark because my other one was cut into pretty badly but there is nothing bad to say about this strip it's hard enough to not accidentally put a overly convex edge on your knives but still soft enough to take the geometry of your knife and it works great by itself and especially when loaded with 1 micron elmision it puts a hair shaving sharp edge on it and quickly touches up my aogami super and white
