F. Dick 10-inch Non-Chromium Polishing Steel

In meat packing plants this is simply called a butcher’s steel. It is stainless steel left unplated, because many cutters scuff the smooth surface with sandpaper until it has the texture they prefer. David leaves his smooth and uses it to burnish the edges on his protein knives.

A smooth rod is the right match for stamped butcher knives from Victorinox and Dexter-Russell. Their steel runs soft, around 54 to 56 Rockwell, and comes back sharp on a polishing rod alone. On steel this soft, a textured rod is more than the edge needs. A smooth rod is also the standard for poultry and seafood processing, where the cleanest possible edge matters. Any tearing at the cellular level is the first thing to discolor on delicate proteins. A knife such as the Victorinox Fibrox Pro 5-inch Curved Semi-Stiff Boning Knife is exactly what this steel is for.

Smooth or Fine Cut?

For harder German and American knives that need a little bite, choose the F. Dick 10-inch Round Fine Cut Sharpening Steel, Red Handle. The F. Dick Poliron 10-inch Polish Steel with Non-Slip Handle is another smooth steel, with a non-slip handle. Our Honing Rod Guide matches rod textures to steel hardness.