Thread: Heirloom Artisan Red Latigo vs Heirloom Latigo

Is there a difference in these TM strops? I have the Heirloom Latigo Starter strops. I was wondering if there was any REAL benefits in upgrading? Is the leather softer in the Artisan Red?

I'm pretty sure he uses the same high grade leather in all his strops but I'll let Tony weigh in on this as he's usually lurking about. The only Latigo hides I've ever seen were either dyed burgundy or black.

Regards

Christian

Ron,
They are the same leather. Well, as much as tanning variances allow anyway. All of my hides come from two suppliers and likely from the same tannery. They all have a waxy feel and are reasonably firm. A little stretching will soften tham as will Neat's Foot Oil. The only difference between Starters and all the others (Originals, Artisans or the Paragons that Shaving Shop, Vintage Blades or Trumpers sold) is thickness. The Starters, being a single component are made from thicker hides so they have more body to them. The rest all have a second, linen/cotton component so are more effective if left thinner and the second piece adds stiffness. Starters measure out at 9 to 9 1/2oz. on average, the rest at 7 1/2oz. A typical hide will range a full ounce or so from butt to shoulder, and back to belly so my figures are only averages.

The hides are cut into similar strips and whatever I am making that week gets made from the same stack whether my least expensive model or most expensive.
There is no second best.

The Artisan name was simply to mark them as different from what I wholesale. The end detail and trim is different.

Tony

And there it is.

Awesome Tony. I will still buy one in the near future. But now I know what to expect. I love the one I have.

OK, so if I bought "craftsman red latigo" strop from vintage, would that be one of Tony's?

Yes, Jim is a dealer for my products as well as John Crowley's Shaving Shop.

Tony

Tony Whats the advantage of having a horse hide strop?

Phil

Phil,
It is different but not really an advantage. It has a smoother surface and a bit less draw. That said though it does have a unique feel, sort of velvety. I tyoically use mine for lighter weight razors where I don't want as much resistance, Latigo for heavier weight pieces where I like the added control I feel with a slower surface.
In the end though both seem to do very much the same job. Horsehide is much harder to get and with tighter regulations may be gone for good in the near future. Even now it takes a long time for each shipment to arrive and with no assurance t will even meet my standards. I am awaiting a large shipment now and once here wil need to be evaluated before anything is made from it, if at all.
I do still feel a latigo strop is a more all around tool than horsehide unless you secifically need the smoother feel or are simply a traditionalist.
Tony