Thread: any thoughts on IL strop company?

I looked in the review section and couldn't find anything. What's the word on the streets about these? Good? Bad?

I have not used one, but perhaps this will help.

- Illinois Strops on SRP

I bought one twenty years ago and summarily destroyed the leather side, with my newb stropping "technique." I removed the linen side and still use that and prefer it over the other webbed cloth option I have at my disposal. Generally speaking I don't think Illinois strops are considered top of the line, but they're decent strops for the money.

Illinois Razor Strop Company (now Fromm International) is the oldest American manufacturer of razor strops since 1907.

I imagine that IRS Co. once had a wide range of strops differing in size, quality and materials. At one time IRS Co. produced some of the best strops available, including cordovan shell strops. They also produced strops that were re-branded for other companies such as Dubbl Duck. No doubt, as the demand for barber shaving services dwindled, so must have the market for high end professional razor strops.

I'm guessing that the currently available line of IRS Co. strops are essentially their lower end professional line (like the #361 and maybe the #827), and possibly their low end range of strops intended for home use (I'd be surprized if the #206 was ever intended for barbershop use, but maybe it was).

Bottom line, I think IRS Co strops are good strops. Probably not as high quality as they once offered, but certainly from a company that knows strop making.

My very first Strop was a Illinois #805 purchased in 1981 I still have it and it still works... I have bought at least 6 Illinois #827's over the past 2 years that somehow every time I get one broke in just right, I end up giving away to a friend or bother-in-law or somebody LOL

I have never had a problem with one myself...

I still like the #827 as I come off the hones, then as my everyday strop I use the SRD Premium I

Originally Posted by gssixgun

My very first Strop was a Illinois #805 purchased in 1981 I still have it and it still works... I have bought at least 6 Illinois #827's over the past 2 years that somehow every time I get one broke in just right, I end up giving away to a friend or bother-in-law so somebody LOLI

Seems I have family out there in I D now that I think about it...

IRS strops work fine. You might need to break them in as some of the existing models are quite stiff. The rough component is a strange feeling textile. Some of their vintage ones wer quite different. Like many of us. You might try it and a collection from different vendors will likely follow. Your interest led you to this site. That said addiction follows. MB

They are good strops, not fancy, but an excellent value!

I have the #827 and its does a great job. IMO its the best inexpensive strop out there. And it fits in my Dopp bag too.