A man after my heart. I'm a huge fan of strops. I think most people put metal to stone far more often than needed. If you don't let it go to dull, a quick stropping will bring it right back to shave sharp in no time, and the less metal you remove, the longer the life of the knife.

This is what I have been waiting for is how to care for a blade in the field. I know common sense is a big part but I respect your opinion on it as well. Thank you for taking the time to make this video.

I recently read your technique in your book. It's nice to see it, too, because it seemed like it would take a long time, but that was pretty quick. I appreciate this take of honing not just as a finishing step of sharpening, but as a replacement most of the time. I've been loving your book. Thank you. :)

The GB2 Puukko is awesome. It's one of my favorite knives now. The handle is very comfortable... in all... Simple design but very effective! Great for carving and it also makes fine feathers! I highly recommend it! Thanks GB

Hi Josh: You probably already know about this, but I wanted to let you know that I've had success using mud/clay and wood to hone and strop. I used your stropping method on a wooden construction stake after sharpening by pulling my knife on the surface of a blob of mud in my hand (burr on one side, then the other). This stropping method left it shaving sharp. Thanks! :)

Enjoyed finally getting to meet you at the gathering. I have always been pretty good at measuring a persons skill set based on the knife they carry. You sir got an A Plus. A man tbat carries a no frills simple, well made, puuko knife with comfort (broom handle style) in mind knows what they are doing. They have actually used a knife ALOT. Thanks for sharing the knowledge. Great looking knife.

"Works good....I'm gonna pick all that up..." LOL...great video, Sir...and will be ordering the Butz paddle strop and Tormex paste shortly....All the Best!

Hay man nice knife I was in Finland couple of years ago and bought 2 Pukkos from the Martini outlet shop bloody oath they are awesome one for every day knock about and a beaut for my survival/bug out bag also bought fero rod sharpening stone and other bits great shop and they sell online. Cheers for all you hard work great channel 👍🇦🇺Phil

I was on a hiking trail a couple days ago and a guy, who I was convinced was the GBGB, was coming from the other direction. As he got closer I decided that he actually wasn't the GBGB but from the beard, and hat, he had me going.

Just ordered my strop and paste. Thanks for the help

Beautiful knife. Great video. I find doing the stropping that way relax's me so much I use it even if the knives don't need it. Safe journeys.

This sound is very important as well as an amazing sound but it lets you know you're on the edge, once you learn how to strop you will always understand what a sharp blade is I have hatchets axes and machetes that you can shave with it is truly amazing what leather can do!

I remember my father's butcher knives in a hand made wooden tote box he used to carry to and from work. With these historic, effective and safe techniques (you demonstrate so elegantly) my father would wholeheartedly concur.

Well... I have been toiling over which puuko style bushcraft knife to get, I land on this video and find out YOU make one!? HELL YEAH. So I go to your shop to buy it (insanely reasonable, it comes with a leather sheath!) and I think I ended up buying one of everything. Sigh. It’s the least I could do since you are sharing your knowledge with us all. THANK YOU. You’re a major bad ass!

I'll have to invest in some of the things you show in both videos, I have the sawyer pull through knife sharpeners which I figured would do me find, but after watching your videos, i'll have to step up my game when it come to keeping my knives sharp, you need to post a no fly zone when doing your videos.

That knife. I'm in love. And as per the norm, another great instructional video. I have Swing Low Sweet Chariot stuck in my head now...

I made a knife very similar to that, couple years ago from an old table saw blade, going to look for it, never finished it, nice video.

Your training technique is great for beginners so specific and slow on all your videos thank you sir

Greetings from Finland! I really enjoy all your vids, but this one was particularily interesting thanks to the puukko. Bit of trivia for you guys... "Puukko" is a Finnish word, and it´s the name for this particular style of egded tool. The word for puukko comes from our word for wood or "puu", and with the ending "-kko" it means "something to do with wood or to wood", etc. (I guess it comes as no surprise that puukko has also been used in a lot in fighting, and still today at least some killings involve this tool.) Puukko is a cultural institution and part of our heritage over here, and many people have almost like a religious attitude to the proper style of puukko, its proper manufacture, its use, maintenance etc. The attitude is that if you go to the woods, number one item to take with you is your puukko. I´m really happy to see that you appreciate this type of a knife. We Finns consider puukko to be puukko and nothing else. Other type of knives over here are called "veitsi", with the exception of "leuku" (see below). Puukko style knives are common all over Nordics, and also in Russia among Finno-Ugric peoples. (Note that Finland is not considered part of Scandinavia, but it is part of the Nordics.) Quite many Slavic Russians use the puukko as well, especially in the northern areas where Finno-Ugric folks have some cultural influence. Puukko is used among the Sámi as well. Among them it´s called "niibi" or "unna-niibas", meaning "knife" or "small-knife" (in Northern Sámi language). Up in Lapland we also have a very large puukko-style knife called "leuku" (which etymologically comes from the Finnish word "leuka", meaning "jaw"), which in Northern Sámi is called "stuorra niibas" or "big knife". While traditional puukko is superb for general purpose bushcraft and whittling etc., leuku is great for hacking small branches and thickets for your fire, quartering animal carcasses, breaking their bones with the spine part of the leuku blade, etc. Large leuku-style fighting knife among Finnish tribes is called "väkipuukko", meaning "strong puukko" or "power puukko". (Violence in Finnish is "väkivalta", meaning "power of force [over others]".)

Awesome tutorial. I do have lots of surfer's rust. Since I moved back to Midwest 39 years ago.

Thanks for the info. Replaced my strop with a Butz; I've been looking for one that would best hone my Zero Tolerance folders and this will be perfect.

Gorgeous ritual for field I'm downloading this video it's very calming after long warm new England day

Hey Josh, just a couple of observations from an old machinist...the scandi grind has good function and maintainability for sure, but the main drawback and the reason it tends to stick is the amount of surface area presented to the object being cut. a secondary bevel tends to diminish that surface area. I also prefer the carbon steel better than all these stainless alloys or the high end "gourmet" steel alloys.. It's cheaper and tough enough. With a small amount of maintenance it will serve for a life time.

More good info!! Received my pathfinder nesting cup.set. very pleased. Just ordered the mora garberg. It will be here Thursday. Looking forward to taking these tools into the field.

Great vid my friend! Im a big fan of scandi grind, have been for years. Hell, I even have 2 Mora knives in my kitchen..no deboning or filleting too tough!!lol

I have a sharpening system which I keep in my backpack, but don't have a strop yet, but plan on buying one before going camping. My knives are kept sharp and the ones I take with me especially.

Thanks. Very instructive video. I have noticed the Butz strop having some popularity, but it always seemed a bit large and heavy for a field honing tool, and I have made do with a simple piece of leather and a flat surface (my belt is suitable for stropping). Your video showed I underestimated the utility of the Butz, and might reconsider it for both home and at least some camping trips. A lot of features for a simple wooden paddle and some leather.

Hilarious, I hope everyone who watches stays to the end! It's so much easier to KEEP a knife sharp than to make it sharp. I always took my own sharpening tools to the field, we were never issued anything. Mostly cut open MRE's with a pocket knife, used the bayonet as an ice pick on the occasions they brought ice out to us. I'll have to see about making a smaller version of that paddle, I like that. Another great video!

Thanks!!! I was waiting for this one! Already saved in my "Best" list.

Great info big void in my base is edge retention. This is a great start to build on. Thanks for sharing.

Still the only 'sharpening' advice i follow. If it aint broke dont fix it. Keep on keepin on.

Thank you Mr

great video, now I'll try to get my fillet knife in better shape after this intruction. thanks!

Your in the Poconos didn't stop in to say hi I'm over by Scranton. Great looking blade Josh .great kit . My kit isn't as extensive but . Lol I use my fero rod try it it works great take care brother

Hey Josh thank you for the video. Would you ever do a video on the tattoos that you have and why you chose them and when you got them.

Good detail and information.

Always explained so eloquently so us Heathens can comprehend! 😂 Great video as always Joshua

stones are for first sharpening/or to repair damage; keep away from stones as much, as possible and just gently/regularly maintain your edge!...also like subtraction trick...great practical pieces of advice, pardon my english and many thanks from CZ!

I watch your vids as well as corps corner and daves vids. Great job by all you guys! I found sharpening anything that form and technique is much more important than speed and repetition. I think a lot of people miss that fact. Also i use a smooth shapening steel. I find it really helps on VERY sharp knives. Your thoughts on sharpening steels?

Love the Butz strop. I’ve had mine for decades. I’ll also add that you should use a light touch. Going too heavy on the pressure can actually round over the edge a bit. That’s a hard one to learn because the instinct is to put some pressure on it to polish the steel. You don’t need too and it can actually hurt. The leather will compress very slightly with pressure and can roll up a bit on the trailing edge. Think of a wake behind a boat. Great vid.

Thanks for the great information. I'm going to order one of those strops. That is a good looking knife too.

Great info thanks for posting 👍😁💪🏻🇺🇸

Thank you for this. You are an excellent teacher!

Solid advice. Thanks. Ive just been using a belt with compound on it.

This knife looks kool AF!!!. Hope to get one on the 2nd batch. I didnt realize how big the knife actually was.

I would love to see a video detailing "indexing" and how that applies to knives of differing styles/purposes and grinds.

Hi from north Sweden , nice video ,

Now THAT is a nice knife. The "no matter which direction i hold this in the grip is exactly the same" is great" great stuff. (is that an scotch eye auger in that roll sweet!) J

That Puukko is awesome!

Outstanding I need to work on my kbar oh old school. going to watch this a lot. It has to be dedicated to this skill

Very educational, cool knife design, traditional.

Keep your knife sharp and your mind sharper !! I call it keeping it in tune !!!

I'm a little lat to the dance Mr. Green Beret but that is a great looking tool you've designed. Informative as always thanks for all you do. Enjoy your weekend

Just ordered that knife. I’ve been waiting for it to come available. I bought it the second I got the email lol.

Great information, thank you for teaching it the way you do. The comic relief at the end is the best, whistling “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” made me think of Chevy Chase in Fletch, haha, keep doing what you do!

If I'd have known you were up there, I'd have made a trip up for a visit.

That's a nice knife, I like the design.

I am the one who PM you. Just found this valuable info.

A like and a comment to help the channel.

Great vid on some good field craft techniques. Thanks for sharing!!

your videos are always on point. i wish you success with the knife(selfishly wants a third or fourth generation in a full flat or saber grind). maybe the plane is the extraction plane you called some odd years ago. allegedly.

Who made your tool roll? Favorite one I've seen.

As always I watch religiously. Learned a lot from you. Refreshing the strop by removing the old clay or compound is a necessity however. Imagine wet sanding a vehicles paint. We use water to lubricate the surface but its main function is to keep the sanding paper clean. Otherwise the paper clogs up and is not as effective and or gouges the paint. Food for thought sir. Have a great day. Hope that made sense.

Haha! GB2 is hysterical

Iso alcohol can be used to float off the metal and paste off of the strop with minimal effort. Also dries off quick.

Nice video. Nice calm voice, nice context. Well done. And I love the simplicity of your puukko. I will buy one. Availability? But : 10 - 10, 9 - 9, 8 - 8, 7 - 7, 6 - 6, 5 - 5, 4 - 4, 3 - 3, 2 - 2, and 1 - 1... Bof. Personally : I sharpen until it's sharp. Period.

Another nice video! By the way, Rick Bütz (who designed the strop) pronounces his name like “boots”.

Good

I smell a "DIY" project!

Joshua, thanks for sharing, great information, very nice kit ,atb brother 👍

Solid video. Great content for the community.

Awesome video! What tool roll did you use?

Awesome thank you! Cheers my friend.

Sir may I recommend mineral oil instead of olive oil. The reason I recommend mineral oil is because I kept olive oil in my emergency car kit for about a year and the heat got to it, needless to say it stunk to high heaven. Mineral oil is safe for processing food as well.

I’m right in Kingston pa you aren’t far from me at all

Nice knife!

Awesome much appreciated!

How much are your classes best videos I have seen

I notice you have one side with compound and the other without. What is the reasons/tradeoffs for honing with or without a polishing compound?

Good Stuff 👍🏻 Thanks

Diamond EZE Lap ,Carson City, Nv 89721 ,Josh I do have a leather strap,and haven't quite figured that thing out . Grey Wolf approved ;)

I have a question about the olive oil. Doesn't it go rancid after awhile? Especially if stored in a kit that lives in the truck. Just curious.

Its the black helicopters looking for you. Good video and good explanations.

Great strop, but never olive oil for me; besides getting rancid it attracts tiny worms. Mineral oil is so much better. Anyway great vid. Peace bro.

Question, will stropping a scandi grind eventually start convexing the blade?

I ordered the GB2 puukko from pft mine has about a half inch space between the handle and where the cutting edge starts the one you have looks A continuous curve

I like the knife. Can't wait to get one. what's the blade length?

I like the puukko....!!!

Thx for vid! that knife looks realy handy around the camp. Is this in production? Steel and thicknes? gratings from Sweden.

so you can use olive oil to clean a carbon steel knife?

Hi Josh, can you strop the Mora Garberg since it has the secondary bevel? Thanks for all of the great info, I'm enjoying your book.

The Benchmade Puuko is on my wish list, and it gets good reviews. I would be curious about your opinion, if you have one. Thanks for all the great work.

First look at your new knife, I like it. Are you going to make them yourself or have it made for you?

How do you suggest stropping large blades such as machetes or do you not take it to this extent? Of course a blade such as a machete where's that very quickly and it's a much deeper angle I'm just curious

Some great tips here. In your opinion are ceramic rods worth having or no? Also will blade maintenance be touched on at the pathfinder basic course?

I enjoyed your video. There are a few questions I have: have you used the Green Aluminum Oxide bar compounds? If you have or if you know them, which do you feel does a better job....them or your paste? At whet point do you use the side without the compound? Or is that side just kept as a spare side? You showed the angle side for scandi grinds....do you think it or the flat side is a better option & why? Thanks

How much force do you use on the blade while stropping?

Was watching charcloth video .. I saw 75th Ranger battalion sign .. was you at ft benning ? I was there 1986 to 1988 and provided direct support for the rangers .. most of the time I was out with the 75th .. just wondering ,, you never know ..I may have been the transporter for your squad

How much paste and when?

Hello, long time lurker first time commenting. Is there a reason you didn't add any kind of guard on the knife, in my opinion the safety you get would out weigh any loss in functionality( which I don't see, but am willing to hear about). Not trying to seem judgy, just actually curious.