Thread: Strop Widths? Is wide really better than narrow ?

I may have asked this one a while back about hones and narrow vs. wide.

I know most people seem to go for really wide strops but what are your reasons for this?

Most would agree the X-pattern is the way to go so why not a 2 1/2" or even a 2" as many European strops are?

Dovo and Jemico products mostly range from 1 1/2" to 2" with each offering a single 3" or so model.

Illinois has 2", 2 1/4" (835?) and 2 1/2" models. Most vintage USA based models I have seen or owned were 2 1/2".

A 3" is perfect for those who want an easy straight up and back stroke and my guess is that is why Dovo and Jemico started doing it...or maybe our USA, "bigger is better" mentality.

I have talked with a few fellows who would really like a European style 2" wide strop.

My personal tastes are with 2 1/2" models. You have to do an X-pattern on them and I simply like the proportion of them....long and quite narrow just looks "right" to me.

I know some will argue that wider may cup easier than narrow but much of that seems to be related to materials rather than width. Oil/waxed/cordovan type tans seem to resist moisture enough they don't move much due to humidity and stay flat. If they do curl they are moldable enough you can correct them easy enough. Natural tanned leathers seem to want to cup as soon as it gets humid . Support hardware on each ends helps a little but it is a long distance down the length of a strop and the hardware really only supports the last few inches.

So.....why wide for you or why narrow?

Tony