this is an excellent tool for finishing. Strops are required to keep your edge keen for daily use, they do not 'sharpen' as such, but rather align the edge for a smooth and clean cut. Strops can play an important part in the actual honing process, as they will remove burrs off freshly honed knives, a very important step for any sharpened instrument. They can also be use for honing and improved blade retention when used with abrasive pastes, sprays or other compounds.