Thread: New Kanayama - Surface imperfections

Hey all,

A week ago I purchased a new Kanayama #3 strop from Aframes Tokyo. As some will know, Aframes Tokyo dispatch from Hawaii, and today I received my new strop here in the UK - Very quick delivery!

Upon unboxing the well packed strop, I was obviously delighted to be holding my first Kanayama. Unfortunately, closer inspection of the suede side revealed various nicks and imperfections, which I am obviously assuming are not normally present. The strop was sealed in a polythene bag, so I don't doubt that it is new, and the cordovan side of the strop is perfect - not a mark on it.

I read recently on Jim Rion's blog page (Eastern Smooth), that the reason he stopped selling Kanayama's back in 2012 was that increasingly a certain percentage of new stock that he received was not up to the standard normally expected of these fine strops - A problem that he attributed partly to the maker's increasing age.

The pictures below show the nicks/marks/imperfections, call them what you will. Basically I am a little stuck on what to do. If the strop had come to me from a UK vendor, I would have no hesitation in sending it back with a view to getting a replacement - but sending it all the way back to Hawaii is a bit of a pain.

The imperfections are aesthetic defects only, so I wonder if I should just forget they are there. Alternatively, Aframes Tokyo also sell the relevant linen side for this strop, which can be swapped with the suede side as and when desired - perhaps I should ask the vendor if he would do me a deal on the linen side?

Any advice appreciated!

Regards,

Al.

From the looks of the pictures, the damage doesn't look all that bad so I'd guess the strop would perform as it should.
That said, a Kanayama strop is imho the very best strop money can buy, and so I personally would prefer a product that reflected that.
It might be nit-picking, but there you go.
Send the vendor a mail with the pictures and see where that leaves you
Good luck.

The vendor says its very common. Its only aesthetic, so it performs perfectly. If it had been a very high end Kanayama, maybe I'd be after a replacement, but at just over $100, there seems little to complain about. Particularly as the business side of the strop is perfect. What a feel these things have!

When you buy a bargain product you expect certain issues. When you go top of the line you should expect commensurate quality. it's that simple to me.

Gentlemen,
I have two Kanayama/Kanoyama strops, the 70000 and the 80000, and both are perfect. Looking at these photographs, the imperfections seem superficial and should not effect the performance of this glorious strop.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

When you buy a bargain product you expect certain issues. When you go top of the line you should expect commensurate quality. it's that simple to me.

I wouldn't consider "just over $100" on a strop a bargain product though. I paid around €90 ($125) for my Scruplework strop, and that was a very high quality item. No way I'd classify it as a bargain product.

Not even compared to a $300 'top of the line' hand-made in Japan product.

The imperfections seem superficial, but they are definitely imperfections. If the you can live with those, fine. But if it bothers you, Al, I can perfectly understand that. In my opinion, a bit over $100 should not get you an imperfect strop, period.

Me, I want to mess up my expensive stuff myself.

$100 is a bargain prices for a strop? I can't help thinking that there is a yawning chasm in perspectives.

Originally Posted by Christel

$100 is a bargain prices for a strop? I can't help thinking that there is a yawning chasm in perspectives.

As you said it is all a matter of perspective. It is a bargain price against a $300 strop vs an expensive price against a $20 strop.

Bob

When I said what I did I didn't attach prices to the term bargain. it was a general thing applying to all items be it a strop or a razor or a new car. it's all relative. An old friend considered his new Yugo a very high quality car.

Originally Posted by Pithor

I wouldn't consider "just over $100" on a strop a bargain product though. I paid around €90 ($125) for my Scruplework strop, and that was a very high quality item. No way I'd classify it as a bargain product.

Not even compared to a $300 'top of the line' hand-made in Japan product.

The imperfections seem superficial, but they are definitely imperfections. If the you can live with those, fine. But if it bothers you, Al, I can perfectly understand that. In my opinion, a bit over $100 should not get you an imperfect strop, period.

Me, I want to mess up my expensive stuff myself.

Yeah I have to agree on all counts. But I guess I feel the overall issue of imperfections is not as clear cut as it could be. If it was a simple case of sending this back to the retailer in exchange for another which was guaranteed as being without imperfections, then I'd definitely do so. But the retailer claims the marks are found on many of his stock Kanayamas, so has only offered a refund rather than an exchange.

I guess the fact is that it's aesthetic imperfection only, the strop works just fine and the cordovan side has no imperfections. Whilst I also believe that $100 should get me a strop with no imperfections, it is difficult to know how much longer Kanayama strops will be on the market for, so maybe that makes it easier to accept these minor aesthetic imperfections.

Bit late now anyway, I've been using it for a week! (And very nice it is too!)

Originally Posted by Christel

$100 is a bargain prices for a strop? I can't help thinking that there is a yawning chasm in perspectives.

I do agree, it's not a bargain price for a strop. But when his high end strops are over $300, it makes $100 feel like a bargain!