Thread: Handle or No Handle

A novice's two cents. I only have one strop (first and only one I ever bought), and it has D rings. So far I like the D rings because I can easily hold/hang the strop with the middle/tip of only one or two fingers which limits how thigh I keep the strop and helps absorb pressure if I put too much on the blade.

Horses for courses, I think! I make them with cut ends, tabs on the cut ends, d-rings at both ends, solid leather handles and stuffed leather handles. As I 'test drive' each model/leather for a substantial time before marketing I have used all types - they all work particularly well for me. The only type I do not like is when a bar on a d-ring or handle-connector falls well short of the width of the strop, which leaves the edges a bit prone to do whatever they feel like. Otherwise they all work equally well. It seems that the vast majority of people who order from me prefer stuffed leather handles, followed by d-rings at both ends, though.

Regards,
Neil

I have all kinds and though the handles are more convenient in the end it doesn't much matter to me.

Of course after being out all day greasing the pigs it can be a task to hold on to those strops without handles.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I have all kinds and though the handles are more convenient in the end it doesn't much matter to me.

Of course after being out all day greasing the pigs it can be a task to hold on to those strops without handles.

You are lucky being able to catch those pigs - my mother in law is so bandy she couldn't catch a pig in a passage...

Regards,
Neil

Plain ends for me thank you.

I used to think I would only ever use D Rings, and though I still like them, I now prefer simple barber strops with plain leather ends. The simplicity and traditional look of plain leather ends just sit really well with me - I love them. Not so much a fan of handles.

all but one of my strops are plain ends. The only one with a "handle" is actually just the strop extended in the shape of a handle, no hardware connecting a separate piece.

My only concern with plain ends is trying to hold them carefully enough to not cup the sides. For instance, a thumb on top and curled index finger below pinching the strop has planted itself in my mind as causing too much tension in the center and not pulling equally on the sides. I could just be imagining things, but it wouldn't be a worry if there was hardware keeping tension across the thing...

Pixel, that grip is a fantastic idea, as well as your usual clean execution!

Thanks Twisted,I have 3 vintage strops as my users,all horse butts.
My left wrist has been fused do to RA,I have no grip anymore so using just a thumb and a forefinger works for me.

I'm only a year into this game, but I have all three types, and so far, prefer the handles on my TM strop. I just got a Kanayama, and I'm still getting used to having no handle on that one. For me, it's probably just a case of getting used to it.

Hello everyone!
I wanted to ask you all for some advice, my husband has recently started shaving with a straight razor and safety one too, he is slowly building his collection of all necessary goodies. I want to give him a shaving related gift for our 5 year anniversary, which is supposed to be WOOD, I thought the best gift was a wooden handle strop...Could you suggest any specific brand? specific strop? Better yet, would you recommend any wood shaving items? preferably under $100