Sharpening Steels

The Dexter-Russell 10-inch smooth butcher steel, also called a polishing steel, is a daily maintenance tool for butchers, meat cutters and cooks who break down protein with Western knives. Its polished surface realigns a rolled or wavering edge without grinding it away, so a few strokes between cuts keep a boning, breaking or chef’s knife cutting cleanly and delay the next session on a sharpening stone.FeaturesSmooth, polished surface. The steel straightens and burnishes the edge rather than removing metal, which preserves the blade and makes the steel suitable for frequent use throughout a shift.Magnetized rod. The steel holds the fine metal particles released during honing instead of letting them fall onto the cutting board or the product.Nickel-plated, high-carbon file steel. A hard high-carbon core carries a nickel-plated finish that forms the polished working surface.Guarded polypropylene handle with heavy-duty ring. The guard keeps the hand behind the working length of the rod, and the ring allows the steel to hang within reach at the workstation.Made in the USA. Dexter-Russell, which traces its history to 1818, builds its Traditional line of butcher steels in the United States.How It ComparesAmong the 10-inch polishing steels we carry, the Dexter-Russell and the Granton 10 in. Packing House Steel are both magnetized. The Granton is made in Sheffield, England. The F. Dick 10 in. Non-Chromium Polishing Steel is stainless and left unplated, so cutters can scuff its surface with sandpaper to suit their preference. All three suit the softer steels used in working protein knives such as Dexter-Russell and Victorinox. Learn More