Originally Posted by
onimaru55
This story comes from Iwasaki honing manual & to put it in context, it was his praising of linen strops. I don't know if he exaggerated the numbers.
"Recently, there are many people who don’t use a linen strop. An improperly maintained linen can damage your edge, but a well-cared-for linen strop can be a fantastic tool. I personally know two barbers who were each able to shave more than 1,000 people without needing to rehone their razors, through skillful use of linen. It really is best to use a properly prepared linen strop. A razor which won’t shave after being stropped on leather can often be restored to shaving form by proper linen use."