Thread: Illinois #827

Well, it's mainly a practicality thing. I have a really nice vintage 30yo ++ horsehide strop that was given to me by a very good friend (has been a barber all his life) of the family. It's cupped slightly in some places, there are a couple of cuts into it... and it's lacking handles. I don't want to modify it since it has sentimental value. Now I'm 100% into the straight shaving thing and I want something that will last me a lifetime - so I don't want to invest into the "beginner" stuff.

The Filly strop is definitely a good deal... but less of a good deal if you throw in the fact that I'm in Canada and there is a 14$USD overcharge on shipping - which seems to be the norm everywhere.

I don't really get the MASSIVE overcharge thing that most stores make on shipping a strop from US to Canada... I can understand for transoceanic sales...but I was even quoted 25$USD to ship to Canada. I think owners could benefit from making "actual cost" shipping quotes to Canada.

At this point I just bit the bullet and ordered a Tony Miller 3" Artisan w/ practice strop... and very happy I did. Class act he is.

hope ya got the practice strop- tacking it on to shipping should be cheap enough, and while you may not need it, I'm glad I didn't start with a "custom" strop. I've only put one nick in mine, but one nick is more than I want lol.

I use an 827 every day with zero problems. Why upgrade?

i have an illinois 206 and i dont necessarily like the draw. paid around $50 for it and it seems awful rigid. not very pliable. i went to a knife shop that sells kitchen knives and pocket knives. they have handless strops almost 3 inches wide and 20 something inches long for $10. maybe they have something like that in canada. i realize you already bought what you want but maybe for applying paste. its a cheaper out and to be truthful my $10 strop get more use than my dovo or illinois strop. i like the draw a lot more.

Tip for the Illinois (worked for mine) every day for a while take a nice big razor with a thick heavy spine, and rub it up and down the strop. I mean, close the razor, lay the strop flat, and massage the crap out of it. Then pick it up and don't kink it, but work it a little. Brings a lot more pliability and fixes the draw. At list it did for me.

Maybe i will use this one..... Lord knows i cant get a good shave from it!

restore that its beautiful! Or PM me if you want me to take it off your hands! And it doesn't have to be a bad razor- the edge is protected. Just a big heavy duty one.