Kangaroo leather is actually one of the best stropping leathers you can use for knives—especially if you’re into high-performance steels. Here’s the breakdown:
Very thin & tight grain → Kangaroo hide is super dense with almost no stretch compared to cowhide. That means it doesn’t round over your edge as much, so you can keep a crisp apex.
Low draw → It feels slicker and faster than cow or horse leather, so it’s easier to keep a consistent angle.
Takes compound really well → You can load it with diamond paste, CBN, or whatever stropping compound you like. Because it’s so fine, it really shines with sub-micron compounds (like 1µ, 0.5µ, 0.25µ).
Durability → Surprisingly tough for how thin it is. It won’t mushroom out or get “fluffy” the way softer leathers can.
Best use case:
High hardness steels (CPM-M4, K390, REX series, etc.) that benefit from fine polishing.
Final finishing pass after stones or ceramics, when you want to push that edge into hair-whittling / mirror-polished territory.
Tips:
Mount it on a super flat base (glass, hardwood, aluminum). Kangaroo is thin—if the backing flexes, you’ll lose the benefit.
Use light pressure. Let the compound do the work.
If you’re chasing max sharpness, go compound-loaded. If you just want maintenance, plain kangaroo leather still works.
 
 
🧰 What You’ll Need:
A leather strop (Work Tuff leather strop)
Polishing compound or diamond emulsion
 
📘 What Is Stropping?
Stropping is the final step in sharpening. It realigns the edge and removes microscopic burrs, resulting in a mirror polish and scary sharpness. Unlike sharpening, it removes almost no metal.
🛠️ Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Apply Compound (Optional)
Rub a thin layer of compound onto the leather side of your strop, like coloring with a crayon. This increases polishing power.
 
2. Lay the Knife Flat
Place the blade flat on the strop, then tilt it up just enough to match the knife’s edge angle (usually 15–20°). A quick tip is to use a marker pen on the edge, and you will be able to tell if you are getting the angle right. 
 
3. Pull, Don’t Push
With the edge trailing (opposite of sharpening), draw the knife spine-first across the strop. Imagine you're wiping something sticky off the blade. Never push edge-first or you'll cut into the leather.
 
4. Use Light Pressure
Let the leather do the work. Pressing hard can round the edge. Use just enough pressure to keep the blade in contact.
 
5. Alternate Sides
Flip the knife and repeat on the other side. Do 10–20 passes per side, or until the edge feels polished and smooth.
 
6. Test the Edge
Carefully test the edge by shaving hair, slicing paper, or running a finger (carefully!) across the edge for smoothness.
 
 
✅ Tips for Better Results
Strop regularly: After each use or sharpening session.
Keep your strop clean: Wipe off metal residue occasionally.
Maintain a consistent angle: This helps avoid dulling the edge.
Use linen or canvas side (if available) before leather for pre-polish.
 
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
Pushing edge-first into the strop
Using too much pressure
Using dirty or dry compound-laden strops for too long without cleaning