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Stropping Factory Edge

Well that's kind of a funny question. I strop all my new factory edges when I get them. And I strop them periodically as they see some use. I think that most factory edges are approximately 40 degrees inclusive. Stropping them without reprofiling them still benefits the edge in my opinion. I think most of the time one reads about stropping one reads about it after someone has reprofiled or simply resharped a knife. Stropping is key there to remove the wire edge. Factory edges are not as prone to wire edges (that's a very general and probably over broad statement but I'll go with it) simply because of the grinding technology available to the cutlers. Never the less, stropping any edge, if that edge is sharp, will improve it if you have good technique IMHO.

I am a big advocate of the strop.
 
not the best way but it'll work. imho most factory edges are too coarse to take full advantage of stropping with your usual green stuff/diamond paste/spray.
 
Does stropping a factory edge maintain it's sharpness?
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It can maintain it's sharpness, if the edge is sufficiently 'sharp' to begin with. Otherwise, it may not have much effect at all.

Almost every factory edge I've seen has been a little coarse, thick, or even blunt (less than fully apexed). Stropping really excels when the edge is more fully refined on the stones first. Prior to figuring that out, I stropped the daylights out of every factory edge I had, mostly with little or no improvement in edge quality. Almost any factory edge will benefit from just a little more TLC on the hones, before stropping. If done carefully, stropping certainly won't hurt, though.

Regarding factory edges not being prone to wire edges, I have one glaring exception to that statement. I collect a lot of Case knives, and they're notorious for coming out of the box with some pretty stubborn wire edges on them. I've even found wire edges on the upward side of the bevel shoulder. I've gotten in the habit of automatically checking for wires on them, as soon as they come out of the box. Usually takes a little work on a ceramic hone to clean up the wire edge on those, then I strop afterwards.
 
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Well, im a newbie, but i get good results using 1200 grit sandpaper. Im learning about strop and it has its merits. I read that the knife-edge looks smooth when used 1000, 1200 grit waterstones but still are several jaggies if saw in microscopic. And jaggies are more easy to become dull but i dont know how much significant is it. I think that is more to give your knife a razor cut than for keep the sharp. I have a PDF document that saw some blade sharp microscopical photos. Its name is knifeshexps. As i said im a newbie and its my opinion based in what i read.
 
By the way, i did it today for the first time and o notice that strop make the blade become brilliant. Is it normal?
 
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