Thread: TM apprentice strop comes out of the closet

Now all of you guys that had your mind in the gutter from reading the title are going to be a bit disappointed. This thread is not about anything that you may have conjured up from the title.
I bought my TM best quality strop back when Tony used to provide a package that included the apprentice strop. Well, that apprentice strop had been hanging in the closet for the longest time. Finally took it out and put some CrO on it and put it back in service. What a great use for this strop! Really nice to have a strop with CrO right there with my main strop. If you have relegated this strop to a drawer or to a hanger in the closet, highly recommend putting it back to use.

Actually I used to include a practice strop when my Artisans were sold, not an Apprentice strop.

The practice strop is 2nd quality, left over leather, not usable for good strops due to discoloration, being too thin, wrinkles, scars, etc.....stuff I would never use in the ones that carry my name. No cut handles, no grommets....just a tool to practice with. way back when they were free, up till recently sold at cost (leather, thong, bead, labor) all for $6.50. Cost have gone up, for materials (I now have to buy leather specifically to make these in order to keep up with demand) and time as I now pay a helper to put these together so will likely jump another $1.00 to $7.50 or so.

The Apprentice is from my first quality Latigo except even thicker and is bought specifically for this application. It is thick and defect free, has a cut out handle, a grommet at the top, nice edging, is broken in and does carry my name. These are priced as any other product and are $29.95.

Thanks,
Tony

The Apprentice/Starter strops are very nice strops in their own right!

I have one, and love it.

I also have an Artisan strop, and use that one more now. But the Starter strop still gets its' licks in now and then, and travels with me.

The Artisan came with the "practice" strop. that strop now lives at my in-laws house up in Maine where we go for weekend getaways. The leather may be slightly inferior, but it still works great, and looks great.

My thanks to Tony for making his strops, no matter what the pricepoint, to be the best that they can be! Really, fantastic workmanship on everything.

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

Actually I used to include a practice strop when my Artisans were sold, not an Apprentice strop.

The practice strop is 2nd quality, left over leather, not usable for good strops due to discoloration, being too thin, wrinkles, scars, etc.....stuff I would never use in the ones that carry my name. No cut handles, no grommets....just a tool to practice with. way back when they were free, up till recently sold at cost (leather, thong, bead, labor) all for $6.50. Cost have gone up, for materials (I now have to buy leather specifically to make these in order to keep up with demand) and time as I now pay a helper to put these together so will likely jump another $1.00 to $7.50 or so.

The Apprentice is from my first quality Latigo except even thicker and is bought specifically for this application. It is thick and defect free, has a cut out handle, a grommet at the top, nice edging, is broken in and does carry my name. These are priced as any other product and are $29.95.

Thanks,
Tony

I could not remember all the right names but the Artisan and practice strops are what I have. The flaws on the practice strop are really minor from the razor's perspective. The practice strop made a great strop when I was getting my technique down. I am just glad that I am putting it to good use again.

Thanks again Tony for making a great product. You are one of a kind... a true artist.