Kanayama 90000

Guys, I got one of these strops that Scottlp of Rasage Poulin (where these will be stocked) mentioned in the Kanoyama thread I put up. This is really and truly the top of the line in the Kanayama range...And let me tell you, this is it. This is the strop non plus ultra, the pinnacle. This isn't a review, because I've only used it twice which simply isn't enough for a strop, I believe. But...

At this level, words like "best" or "fantastic" don't really fit. I'm not a strop guy--I've owned 4 strops, and three of those Kanayamas. I'm no expert, but I don't think I need to be. This is a truly amazing piece of handicraft.

This is to strops what Castle Forbes is to creams, what a Joe Chandler Wootz Damascus is to straights...it is a thing unto itself.

67cm long, 6.8cm wide. The Cordovan finisher is 4mm, the rough horsehide is 6mm. Locking thumb screw tacle with a heavy duty spring clip (it needs it). The fabric is separate, which is actually good...if they were together, it would be really unwieldy. And HEAVY.

Pictured with my 30000 for comparison.

You and Seth really need to cut that out! Just stop already, OK?:(




Now then....are you saying this strop has two grades of horsehide as a pre-finish, and then finisher? Is the "rough" one using the smooth side of the leather. or the rough side?

Looks unbelievable!

this is something special. Excellent .

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Originally Posted by Seraphim

You and Seth really need to cut that out! Just stop already, OK?:(

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My sentiments exactly .....:cry:

Meh.....I'm actually feeling pretty jaded.


I think I'll wait until they unveil the Kanoyama 120000....


:nj

Those Japanese horse butts leave me speechless! Any cure for strop envy?

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Originally Posted by Kees

Those Japanese horse butts leave me speechless! Any cure for strop envy?

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Buy one :D

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Originally Posted by Kees

Those Japanese horse butts leave me speechless! Any cure for strop envy?

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They get that fine leather as a leftover from eating basashi.:)

I hate you Jim. The only way to fix our relationship is to send me one of those strop.

No Joke my friend, you have really got me to the point where I am on the verge of a new AD

Looks really beautiful. I really want one badly, my rasurpur Kanoyama feels so inadequate now and it's my favorite strop...

I'd definitely like to see his business improve, it's a shame that he's struggling when the rest of the razor business seems to be booming, but I guess that's the price of avoiding the internet.

I don't see it listed on the Rasage Poulin site, where can I buy one?

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Originally Posted by blaireau

I don't see it listed on the Rasage Poulin site, where can I buy one?

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Kanayama Cordovan Razor Strop: Rasage Poulin Fine Wet Shaving Supplies : Calgary, Alberta, Canada

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Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

Absolutely beautiful.

I dub thee, the official "strop acquisition disorder enabler."

Jim, does he give hardware for the fabric, or suggest a way to hang it?

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Nope. I'll ask him though, I'm kind of struggling with a good solution. Maybe a nice silk cord woven by the emperor's virgin niece? ;)

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Originally Posted by Seraphim

They get that fine leather as a leftover from eating basashi.:)

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You know, I actually thought about that...then I was at the grocery store, and I noticed that all the horse meat was sourced from...wait for it...

CANADA!!!!

It's the circle of life, I tell you!

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Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

I hate you Jim. The only way to fix our relationship is to send me one of those strop.

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Nope. Only got the one. And you'll have to fight me fer it. If'n you kin take it...you kin have it!
:mace:

Guys, I really do have to apologize...apparently, at the moment there is no way to get one of these strops. They're kind of between homes...and it might be a while before you can get your hot little hands on them. Sorry!

In the meantime, I'll be sure and tell you every time I use mine. My sweet, sweet strop...:angel:
First the stiff woven fabric, then the lovely, velvety horsehide, and finally the smooth, silky cordovan....

Looks real good, Jim.

Does it come with separate hanging hardware for the canvas?

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Originally Posted by RayG

Looks real good, Jim.

Does it come with separate hanging hardware for the canvas?

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Hey Ray, sorry I missed this.

No, it doesn't. I'm thinking he's assumed that people in apartments where you aren't allowed to drive hooks in the wall won't be buying a lot of these. What I did was get some nice brass wiref and made a little hook to hang it from the swivel of the main strop. The let's it kind of hang together, but it doesn't get in the way when you're using the other two strops.

You know what, though? I'll ask him if he can recommend/include something.

Perhaps a metal piece identical to the one on the leather strops would work to mount the cloth strop.

He probably has those in stock. It wouldn't bother me if the "linen" component was separate.

Jerry

Hello gentlemen, I've talked to Kanoyama about this. Apparently, the traditional use of the linen in Japan is just to remove oils from the blade. So the linen gets much less use than the leather, apparently--thus, the linen, being separate from the other strops, just gets grommet. He seemed a bit consternated that I would ask him to add something to the linen at all. He said "Just put it on a hook."

Sooo....I guess just put it on a hook?

I put a strap in mine and hung it on the same hook as the leather, and it works pretty good.

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Originally Posted by JimR

Hello gentlemen, I've talked to Kanoyama about this. Apparently, the traditional use of the linen in Japan is just to remove oils from the blade. So the linen gets much less use than the leather, apparently--thus, the linen, being separate from the other strops, just gets grommet. He seemed a bit consternated that I would ask him to add something to the linen at all. He said "Just put it on a hook."

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Obviously he has never read the "Interesting Article" thread here. :shrug:

wow, this is truly an apreciatable strop.
I am glad I will be a Kanayama owner myself,
as soon as rasurpur gives me an answer.

I am so looking forward to this strop.

btw. does anybody know which line they sell at rasurpur?
It only has a "3" in the circle instead of 3k or 90k.
I don´t bother much, I´m just interested

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Originally Posted by Lesslemming

wow, this is truly an apreciatable strop.
I am glad I will be a Kanayama owner myself,
as soon as rasurpur gives me an answer.

I am so looking forward to this strop.

btw. does anybody know which line they sell at rasurpur?
It only has a "3" in the circle instead of 3k or 90k.
I don´t bother much, I´m just interested

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Rasurpur sells something outside of this main line of strops...I'm not sure at all. I think they are supplied through a third party, because not even the maker seems to know about them...but it's sure to be a quality strop! Enjoy!

thanks for the answer, I will indeed enjoy the strop :)

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Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

Are you saying that perhaps there is someone producing Kanayama strops? Kinda in the same way Coke is produced and bottled under license in different countries?

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No, I think someone else buys the strops to their own specifications, and then sells to Rasurpur...Naomi told us he's never sold to anyone in Europe, to his knowledge, but he does have some people who buy in bulk in Japan.

Looks beautiful.

What is the significance of the numbers? and what is the difference between the 30,000 and the 90,000...aside from $240.

The significanse of numbers will be revealed to you here (opening post): A Visit to Japan's one and only Strop Man - Straight Razor Place Forums

Jim,

I already ordered the 90000 from Rasage. My primary reason for buying it is that it appears to be a functional work of art.

I would be willing to buy one of the metal pieces like he uses for the other strops if that would fit the grommet on the canvas one.

Maybe if you approached him from the art appreciation standpoint he would be willing to sell one. We do use our strops differently here, and I wonder how one can pull the canvas tight when it is attached by a cord. Wouldn't the canvas curl across the width?

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Originally Posted by figaro

Jim,

I already ordered the 90000 from Rasage. My primary reason for buying it is that it appears to be a functional work of art.

I would be willing to buy one of the metal pieces like he uses for the other strops if that would fit the grommet on the canvas one.

Maybe if you approached him from the art appreciation standpoint he would be willing to sell one. We do use our strops differently here, and I wonder how one can pull the canvas tight when it is attached by a cord. Wouldn't the canvas curl across the width?

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The "canvas" isn't like any fabric I know. It's STIFF. Far stiffer than the leather. I haven't notice any tendency toward curling, but I understand the concern. I'll pass on the request.

Well guys, I talked to Naomi-san about this again, and I have some good news.

After my first question on this matter, he seemed to realize that it was kind of a problem, so he went ahead and attached hanging tackle to all the fabric strops...so apparently, you'll be getting an "upgraded" strop with matching hanging tackle on the fabric and on the leather.

I didn't. :(

I have the 30000. I feel this strop is nothing short of amazing.

Problem I find is that the hardware is sub par.

In comparison to my heirloom strop and my straight razor designs strop the hardare on this one is tinny.

I'm having a silversmith make ornamented replacements and a friend make a handle. It doesnt need a handle really but.... what the heck.

I am sorry to hear you are the last one who didn´t get the upgrade, jim

And I proudly announce that I am an owner of an Rasurpur Number 3 Kanayama Cordovan Strop.
It really is amazing, nothing like anything I ever owned

I have to ask:
Did anyone ever try to strop on the back side of the Kanayama leather?
It seems very silky and comofrtable :hmmm:

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Originally Posted by Lesslemming

I am sorry to hear you are the last one who didn´t get the upgrade, jim

And I proudly announce that I am an owner of an Rasurpur Number 3 Kanayama Cordovan Strop.
It really is amazing, nothing like anything I ever owned

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I should have thought more kindly of Naomi-san...I got the metal piece in the post today, unrequested and unpaid. A truly kind man...

Tell me, in the picture on Rasurpur it looks like the fabric is shorter than the leather...is that the case?

wow, that is something unexpected and kind from him.
It makes me apreciate my strop even more

To answer your question the fabric and the leather have the exact same length

Same length on mine. They've just got the leather pulled forward which combined with the lack of depth perception (magnified by that flat white background) makes it look longer.

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Originally Posted by zir0

I have the 30000. I feel this strop is nothing short of amazing.

Problem I find is that the hardware is sub par.

In comparison to my heirloom strop and my straight razor designs strop the hardare on this one is tinny.

I'm having a silversmith make ornamented replacements and a friend make a handle. It doesnt need a handle really but.... what the heck.

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I would recommend not putting a handle on the Kanoyama. The leather is so nice, you are paying for that nice leather, you should enjoy the feel of that leather in your hand as you strop with it.

Just my opinion.

I have been thinking about a handle myself, because I think they are handy when stropping. But as soon as I tried the Kanayama I knew it was absolutely unnescessary. It was meant to be used this way and works just fine. If however someone would still like to put a handle on it, I can understand.
The only problem I see is, the strop is pretty long and adding a handle would make it even longer

I have a #3,6300 & 70k and i love em all but I'm laying my 70k of for the future, reason I have em all is to future proof my self because I have never used a better strop than this, it polishes the edge like nothing else and I have 5 other strops, Including the ones I just listed, Kanayama cordovan are deffinetly a #1 strop to use for straights, it wasn't until Kanayama strops that I realized that strops actually make a difference in the straight razor edge!

I've had mine for about a year I think.. I take it for granted now.
The linen stays in the box, even though I softened it up with fabric softener .. Suede then leather for me.
I did invest in extra metal pieces and a case. I couldn't let dust get near my strop :nono:
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