I think that most of us would agree that stropping is something that we can't live without. This morning I re-honed my new Red-point 917 and finished it on my 15k+ welsh slate mystery hone. After 40 passes with no pressure and just water, I wanted to see what it could do to hair. I grabbed a strand of my wife's hair, which is extremely fine, and went to work. The blade was passing the HHT in a few spots along the blade. SO I started stropping. I did 100 passes on my vintage pigskin strop and was amazed with the difference! The blade is now passing the HHT throughout the length of the blade. A few times the edge bit the hair and actually split the wife's fine hair!

In conclusion, stropping is a must, for me anyways. I've seen people mention shaving right off their finishers but after today I'm clearly sold on it. I think my stropping technique has improved greatly over the month I've been shaving with a straight razor as well and perhaps that has something to do with the final edge on my razor!