Small Knife Strop/Sharpener

A small, portable DIY knife strop to always keep on hand. I wouldn't really recommend this for anything other than edge touch-ups on smaller (≤ 3.5") pocket knives or when you don't have a full size strop on hand.

If you don't know what a strop is, I encourage you to look it up. If you are serious about knives, a strop will take your already sharp knives to a whole new level of sharpness.

Flexcut Gold is a great stropping compound for most steels, but it does have trouble with the harder, higher carbide steels. If you are planning to strop high-carbide steels like M4, or just want a compound that will power through anything while giving you a great mirror finish, go with a diamond compound: https://store.burrfection.com/collections/strops/products/diamond-paste-5g?variant=35781721129117

I originally used this leather for the strop: https://www.amazon.com/Tandy-Leather-Heavyweight-Natural-4532-00/dp/B0056ULQZC/ref=pd\_bxgy\_2/140-6197409-4384550?\_encoding=UTF8&pd\_rd\_i=B0056ULQZC&pd\_rd\_r=c00efd33-0676-4831-b94f-9d63441bf921&pd\_rd\_w=TKt1j&pd\_rd\_wg=YW1EM&pf\_rd\_p=ce6c479b-ef53-49a6-845b-bbbf35c28dd3&pf\_rd\_r=PBN088XTB5JJA1GY5MZE&psc=1&refRID=PBN088XTB5JJA1GY5MZE

But have since moved to this one, which has a more consistent and even “rough” side: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DJCG2Z2?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details

Print instructions

Since I plan to keep this in a backpack, which is sometimes left in the hot car, I printed this in PETG. Normal PLA will deform in a hot backpack, but if that isn't a foreseeable event then use whatever material you want, as long as it's reasonably hard (not like nylon or Ninjaflex).