Comparison of the various leathers sold by SRD

Sorry no, I don't have one, am seeking such. I'm hoping some or many of you have tried multiple strop leathers (of the 7* available by my count) from SRD and can give a better comparison of them and their draws than i can surmise/compile/guesstimate from the descriptions on the sales site.

I have the Red Latigo. I want less draw. I think I want English Bridle (P4), but there's no mention of draw in the description.

From SRD descriptions:

Heavy Draw: The Natural, P3
Medium Draw: The Natural, Roo, P2
"Elegant" Draw: P1,

Which leaves "?" Draw: Latigo, P4, P1 (because i don't know where "elegant" fits)

See my dilemma? I have one of their leathers with no reference to how it relates to the others, so i don't know which way to go, except that i don't want The Natural, or P3.

Anybody have experience with Latigo vs the others? Anybody want to trade leathers? I do have a 100 year-old hard/slick strop (russian shell), and prefer it, but would like to have wider one with less nicks (and a D-ring!) hence my inquiry.

Thanks.

(I may have missed some descriptions as some vary, some don't, so i didn't open every single strop description between red and black and 2 and 3 inches.)

*7 current leathers offered at SRD:

Roo=Kangaroo
Natural=?
Latigo=Latigo
P1=?
P2=?
P3=Buffalo
P4=English Bridle

and the 8th player:
PH=Premium Horsehide, but no longer cataloged.



EDIT:

HERE'S A REVIEW: (for those who want to skip the nuances of member inputs)
(see May 10)http://www.straightrazormagazine.com...h/label/Review

I have the black latigo and think the only difference between red and black latigo is the color. I hope. I also have a English bridle. I like the bridle much better. it is more of what I was use to back in the 70's when I first started . I started quite started quite. you get the picture. but I do like the bridle feel. where in middle tn are you. I live in parsons. close to the tn river.

I have their latigo and their Premium 1. The premium 1 has a wee bit more draw than horsehide, which has almost none, and less than latigo. For my hand it is just about perfect. YMMV.

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Originally Posted by rhensley

I have the black latigo ... where in middle tn are you. I live in parsons. close to the tn river.

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I'm between the very wetspots where the Stones River and Duck Rivers spring to life. North of Manchester, South of Woodbury.

Years ago, living further west as a kid, we rented a cabin near Cedar Creek IIRC. Love the upper Buffalo, but don't get down there much anymore.

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I have their latigo and their Premium 1. The premium 1 has a wee bit more draw than horsehide, which has almost none, and less than latigo. For my hand it is just about perfect. YMMV.

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I agree with JimmyHAD as I have same strops. I'm currently using horsehide as I like less draw. Have increased horsehide draw just a bit by rubbing in some neatsfoot oil a few times a year. Prior to horsehide used the Premium 1 exclusively for a couple of years. I like it very much. My latigo is like new, as I don't like that much draw and have only used it a couple of times.

Lou

Who's horsehide? Generically speaking "shell leather" like my Russian, or one of the SRD offerings?

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Originally Posted by LouG

I agree with JimmyHAD as I have same strops. I'm currently using horsehide as I like less draw...My latigo is like new, as I don't like that much draw and have only used it a couple of times.

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I have their latigo and their Premium 1. The premium 1 has a wee bit more draw than horsehide, which has almost none, and less than latigo. For my hand it is just about perfect. YMMV.

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I've got Latigo and Roo. The Latigo is like pulling a truck out of the mud compared to the Roo!

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Originally Posted by Splashone

I've got Latigo and Roo. The Latigo is like pulling a truck out of the mud compared to the Roo!

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yeah, I really have to focus on my technique to keep the blade from shifting in my grip on the Latigo. That's why I don't care for it as much as slikker stuff. Trying to "index" the draw/slickeryness of the SRD strops so we can all get the one we think we need on second or third try.

I don't want all seven flavors (well I do, but my bag-o-money doesn't agree. :( )

I also tried out the SRD latigo. Seemed like the draw relaxed a little after a year of conditioning and use next came the SRD English bridle leather. world of difference. I bought a SRD roo strop but it was a little too light, since switched back to the English. I don't think you can go wrong with any of SRDs stops but like you I felt the latigo always wanted to pull the razor out of my grip. That's why we love this s***! So many flavors.

Latigo is heavy draw for me. I like it for wedges only and even then it feels heavy. Bridle is about perfect for all around use. Less draw. I think premium 1 is the least of the three. I use it all the time. It's very light draw and very smooth.

I really like my Illinois #827, after it broke in and stopped shedding, it really is a great all around strop. The impregnated linen with the cerium oxide really puts a nice touch on the blade. It's a strop with an already treated linen side, and it really contributes to an very fine shaving experience. Couple that with the nice medium to heavy draw of the strop, and this routine with this strop has consistently produced excellent edges for me.

I've ordered the legendary SRD 3" Roo strop, with the coarse linen backing, and will see if the use of this compliments and enhances the edges on my blades. I figure changing things up with the blades should only be good for them, different strops will obviously affect blades differently, or so in theory it goes, so am looking forward to see how the Roo leather and the coarse linen addition I added on impacts the edges.

Yeah, i didn't like my 827, i pasted it. Hadn't really used the linen as I didn't know what abrasive was pre-loaded onto it. Really trying to learn the rocks right now without a lot of confusion from pastes/sprays.

And but i don't consider that one an SRD leather.

Sounds like P1 or Roo are the least draws of the information presented so far. Thanks, keep 'em coming.

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Originally Posted by WadePatton

Yeah, i didn't like my 827, i pasted it. Hadn't really used the linen as I didn't know what abrasive was pre-loaded onto it. Really trying to learn the rocks right now without a lot of confusion from pastes/sprays.

And but i don't consider that one an SRD leather.

Sounds like P1 or Roo are the least draws of the information presented so far. Thanks, keep 'em coming.

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As you know, I'm a huge fan of the #827, was my third strop and it is heads and tails above the other two. Valery, the craftsman who does all my blades and honing, got a SRD Roo strop awhile ago and raves about it...say's it a superb strop, and this dude knows blades.

So, I'm interested to see how the Roo strop does, to see if it augments / enhances my blades. Of course going to take two blades, both TI's that are similar, and use one expressly on the #827 and the other on the Roo and see if I can tell a difference...which I'm sure I won't be able to tell. As Valery told me, he used to strop his blades on his leather belt, and that was just fine...reminds me occasionally not to over think this whole shaving thing....

FYI, here is a link to an article that discusses SRD strops at length, with a chart illustrating differences in draw: Straight Razor Magazine: Review: Straight Razor Designs - The full strop line

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Originally Posted by MBR1965

FYI, here is a link to an article that discusses SRD strops at length, with a chart illustrating differences in draw: Straight Razor Magazine: Review: Straight Razor Designs - The full strop line

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Now that's a big help. NOW i see that they USED to sell a "Premium Horsehide" (8th leather). Maybe now this information will be easier to find. I had bumped into the "magazine" some while back but i forget what i was looking at...could has been strops-but until you get one, you can't know the suitability to your hand.

I currently have the SRD Latigo. I'm interested in getting a new strop and putting paste on the fabric side of the Latigo. For a while I've been considering the SRD English Bridle; however, I've noticed several members mention that the Premium 1 is really nice. Does anybody have both the P1 and PIV and if so, which is your favorite?

I have 3 leather strops. an Illinois 206 Horsey, a SRD red latigo, and lately a SRD premium I. I used the small, old horsehide for a long time and never knew any different. It's draw is quite light, the surface hard and somewhat slick. I'm glad I learned on it. Being small, it was more challenging. The drawback was that my next was the red Latigo, and my muscle memory caused me to make mistakes and I nicked the HELL out of the Latigo. I love the thick draw but it's like swashing through molasses after that horsehide! Now I'm using the premium I almost exclusively. It's a nice middle-point and I love it. SRD just makes good strops...period. Enjoy the exploration. Follow your guts. For me, the straight razor passion is all about the many different flavors and combinations that occur and are possible. Happy Shaving! (and stropping, and everything else gents!)

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Originally Posted by Phrank

As you know, I'm a huge fan of the #827, was my third strop and it is heads and tails above the other two. Valery, the craftsman who does all my blades and honing, got a SRD Roo strop awhile ago and raves about it...say's it a superb strop, and this dude knows blades.

So, I'm interested to see how the Roo strop does, to see if it augments / enhances my blades. Of course going to take two blades, both TI's that are similar, and use one expressly on the #827 and the other on the Roo and see if I can tell a difference...which I'm sure I won't be able to tell. As Valery told me, he used to strop his blades on his leather belt, and that was just fine...reminds me occasionally not to over think this whole shaving thing....

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Val's work is gorgeous. I follow his Insta pretty religiously.

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Originally Posted by ColdComfort

Val's work is gorgeous. I follow his Insta pretty religiously.

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Valery is a great guy, have met with him several times for coffee, he's a real artist both in design, restoration, and he really knows his stones. He's always put a real great edge on my blades, and when I asked him about a blade he'd recently restored, and how it seemed to give one of the better shaves, he reminded me that is was probably due to the new Escher finishing stone he has! I'd seen when he got that, to forget about it, and then actually feel the difference was quite the lesson!

He's why I decided to give the Roo strop a try, I figure it will be a compliment to the Illinois #827, which IMO, is an all around fantastic strop, from the cerium oxide impregnated fine linen side, to the Russian leather that provides a draw that gives great feedback, my blades have never been better since I started using it.

Well kind Sirs, Ron just got back with me and suggests that the P2 has possibly the least draw of the SRD line-up.

Anybody use the P2?

You should feel an 8/8 on the Latigo...like stropping a hatchet (on molasses).

My favorite is the P4. It's like butter. I found the P1 to be too slick and hard. The latigo was nice, but the draw was heavier than I wanted. The P3 does have kind of a heavy draw, but not as much as the latigo. I kept the P3 and P4, my favorite two.

That makes P1 sound good to me.

Does/has anyone used the P2? Not one single reference to that one yet (outside of review).

Hello, any Premium 2 strop users anywhere?!

Anybody have a 3" SRD stop leather they don't like and would sell/trade? PM me. I'm too strung out on razors and rocks to buy all the leathers to see which one works best for me.

I had an SRD Latigo and it has a heavy draw. I also had a P3 (Buffalo) and it has an even heavier draw than the Latigo. My preferences in strops have changed and now I like a light draw, so I use horsehide and Tony Miller's premium steerhide. SRP discontinued their horsehide, but I would definitely get one if they bring it back.

I picked up another used strop (practically a gimme) says it's "'A-1' Extra Heavy Shell, Saddle Leather" and it cleaned up nice, feels good. So now i have two "hard and fast" strops (Russian shell is the other). I just use the nylon side of the SRD at this point. Some day I'll run across someone with an extra slab of leather to try in the SRD hardware (yes each leather is available individually so that one can swap them out, will do when my income picks up). Otherwise I'm pretty well done with that market personally.

But as it's not all about me, it's about us:

Here are some more discussions of the various SRD leathers:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...roo-strop.html

and some waybacks:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...-tm-strop.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/vendo...m-2-strop.html
(here is where you find out P2 is cowhide and that at least one has been sold.)

http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...roo-strop.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...1-leather.html

but wait there's more:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...emium-1-a.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...remium-iv.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...ing-truth.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...sh-bridle.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...remium-ii.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...ium-i-iii.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...emium-iii.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...remium-ii.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...much-draw.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...horsehide.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...-ii-strop.html

I love these strop threads.I think the key to a great strop is in the quality of construction.
The diff type of leathers used may all feel a bit diff,But in the end they all do the same thing,they strop your Razor.
Your Razor has no clue as to what type of leather is used and really do's not care.:) JMO

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Originally Posted by pixelfixed

I love these strop threads.I think the key to a great strop is in the quality of construction.
The diff type of leathers used may all feel a bit diff,But in the end they all do the same thing,they strop your Razor.
Your Razor has no clue as to what type of leather is used and really do's not care.:) JMO

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Totally agree. What it comes down to is, personal preference, What you like, and feel comfortable with. When I started, I was using Latigo. I quickly got tired of the heavy draw. Today I prefer Horsehide, very slick, and fast. SRD's premium 1 remains one of my favs.

Exactly. I have five pre-owned strops and one SRD that was new for me. All but one of my pre-owned are antiques, so i didn't think trying to compare them to SRD would make sense given their varied histories and conditions. The other is a modern production ILL 827 and I don't care for it. I pasted it, as I pasted my "Barber's Special". And the latigo isn't too bad on the tiny 4/8 blade i have, or even the super double extreme maxi hollow 5/8 blades.

I was just hoping to find the SRD leather that feels like the shell from back in the day and my only cross-over for comparison is the latigo.

I'm done shopping for a while. Enjoy the links.

I figger why not share some search engine results to remind folks we have an internal search engine (not googgle) (which you'll see when you title search popular terms-that many folks completely forget or never use).