Quote Originally Posted by Obie View Post
Gentlemen,

Some years ago, when new at straight razor shaving and stropping, I met an old time barber whose stropping technique I found unusual. He stropped holding the blade at a medium angle with the point leading on the up-stroke and the heel on the down stroke. Not only that, but he used only about seven to eight inches of length on the strop, manipulating the razor between thumb and index finger while keeping the wrist almost locked. He gave an explanation of why he found this method optimal, but I don't remember it.

I have stropped that way since then with superb results. Recently, when I read a thread in which Mentor A.F. Davis, whom I consider a pro in strops and stropping and whose opinion I respect, brought up this method of stropping, reaffirming my decision to emulate the old barber.

That's the method of stropping I use. Since I use only about seven inches of length on the strop, manipulating the razor between the thumb and the index finger with the wrist almost locked, my stropping count ratio is higher on both linen and leather. What's more, I truly enjoy stropping and the rhythm that puts me in a state of zen. Ordinarily before the shave, I strop 50 strokes on linen and 150 on leather with no pressure, holding the strop taught but allowing a hint of a sag. After the shave, 15 strokes on linen and leather each further clean and dry my blade.
Any video of that Obie?