is stropping really necessary???
It has been said many times on this site by men more knowledgable than me, "stropping is an acquired skill and takes time to learn." I really didn't buy in to their wisdom, not until I blunted my first razor and took a hunk out of a perfectly good strop. So late smart!!! What makes sense to me is the simple fact that the very fine edge of a well honed razor will oxidize unless it is well protected. One of the easy ways to rid the edge of the oxidized material is to smooth it with a strop, a good strop. Recently I bought such a strop from Jimmy R. I am truly amazed, now, just how much the edges of my razors have improved. And how easier it is for me to use them. Stropping, to me, is an acquired art. IMHO it is essential to achieving the results that I want.