Ahhh, the great handle debate <g> Many. many older barber's strops were made straight cut across the bottom...no handles. The Illinois 361 is a modern day example and a quick check of ebay will turn up many as well. Hand American makes them as well. I simply lay the strop across my index finger so it supports the entire width and clamp in down with my thumb. Works fine.

As for quality there is no difference. The same leather goes into everything from Starter to Artisan. Anything cosmetically less becomes practice strops or giveaways and is marked with an "S" for "seconds". Anything functionally less is thrown away.

Tony