Silicon carbide, SiC (carborundum) is a hard, high melting solid and a well known abrasive.

Some strops have a linen or canvas back embedded with a fine abrasive used to maintain a sharp edge before final polishing with the leather side.

The Swarovski Group also includes Tyrolit (makers of abrasive and cutting tools) Swareflex (reflective and luminous road markings) Signity (synthetic and natural gemstones) and Swarovski Optik (optical instruments such as binoculars and rifle scopes).