Thread: Kanayama #3 where to go from there

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Any quality leather strop will work as good as any quality leather strop,buy one, use it for the rest of your life.
Buy a kanijomoto (or whatever) for $300.00, you will never know the diff between it and a $65 strop from another vendor.
Good strops are nothing more than animal hides,they all do the same thing.

That may be true, but If i spend a billion $ to get the best shave I can, I would also expect to get a strop that feels wonderful when stropped.

Originally Posted by dta116

That may be true, but If i spend a billion $ to get the best shave I can, I would also expect to get a strop that feels wonderful when stropped.

You will never see a differance between a quality $ 65 strop or a $300 strop.just will not happen.
But do what you need to do.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

You will never see a differance between a quality $ 65 strop or a $300 strop.just will not happen.
But do what you need to do.

There is most certainly a difference in the strop feel between a Kanayama and a lesser strop, I know because I have many.

It is the material difference, It deos not have to be a Kanayama, but a Cordovan Shell strop cost more and feels better to me than a Latigo or Horsehide.

I am not talking about what does the job. You are correct that you can get just as good a shave from most quality strops, but it's the pleasure of getting there is what I am talking about.

Originally Posted by dta116

There is most certainly a difference in the strop feel between a Kanayama and a lesser strop, I know because I have many.

It is the material difference, It deos not have to be a Kanayama, but a Cordovan Shell strop cost more and feels better to me than a Latigo or Horsehide.

I am not talking about what does the job. You are correct that you can get just as good a shave from most quality strops, but it's the pleasure of getting there is what I am talking about.

+1 to this. A Yugo will get you from A to B (most times) but using a Mercedes 500SL is infinitely so much nicer of an experience. An extreme example, but there is a point in there somewhere... Of course there is a point of diminishing returns after a while. But I would agree that there is a definite difference between most $65 strops and most $2-300 strops in the experience.

As another comparison, I choose to keep my shave equipment in a nice custom made shelf instead of stacked on my bathroom counter. Both are capable of storing my shave accoutrements. But the shelf is so much nicer to look at!

Your final leather should not be abrasive.

So the only difference in the strops can be length, width, texture, draw, Thickness and finish.

No performance gains will ever be got between leathers. Your leather would have to be abrasive for that to happen.


The linen counterpart on the other hand can affect the razor. Even more so with compounds. So get the best quality linen, and a good quality leather.

Anything claiming to be a better stropping material for your final leather is hyperbole and the gains will be ephemeral. You are by large grading the audible and tactile feedback and converting that into illusional gains.

I don't believe anyone is claiming gains using different leathers. I claim I would rather strop on a Kanayama than a cowhide or a heavier draw leather. This is a preference. I also would rather drive a Jag than a Chevy, they will both get me there.

Everything is abrasive to some degree. What purpose would the strop be in the scheme of things. That is no illusion. Most people would rather shave with a stropped razor than not.

Originally Posted by Iceni

Your final leather should not be abrasive.

So the only difference in the strops can be length, width, texture, draw, Thickness and finish.

No performance gains will ever be got between leathers. Your leather would have to be abrasive for that to happen.


The linen counterpart on the other hand can affect the razor. Even more so with compounds. So get the best quality linen, and a good quality leather.

Anything claiming to be a better stropping material for your final leather is hyperbole and the gains will be ephemeral. You are by large grading the audible and tactile feedback and converting that into illusional gains.

Once I experienced the Kanayama #3 I stopped there. Yes, I thought of procuring a higher end strop from this excellent craftsman but no need really because the #3 simply does it for me.

Originally Posted by Iceni

Your final leather should not be abrasive.

So the only difference in the strops can be length, width, texture, draw, Thickness and finish.

No performance gains will ever be got between leathers. Your leather would have to be abrasive for that to happen.


The linen counterpart on the other hand can affect the razor. Even more so with compounds. So get the best quality linen, and a good quality leather.

Anything claiming to be a better stropping material for your final leather is hyperbole and the gains will be ephemeral. You are by large grading the audible and tactile feedback and converting that into illusional gains.

Excuse me, but I thought I should respond with a huge rebuke - RUBBISH!

I thought that you may have read what many others here have posted - obviously not.

Excuse me, but I thought I should respond with a huge rebuke - RUBBISH!

I thought that you may have read what many others here have posted - obviously not.

Forgive my impertinence.

If my post is in some way incorrect then I would expect it to be corrected in a logical and debated manner. To be censured without debate is not a solution.

If I my statement is incorrect then correct it. We are all here to be educated.

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

Excuse me, but I thought I should respond with a huge rebuke - RUBBISH!

I thought that you may have read what many others here have posted - obviously not.

Hmmmmm....absolute pronouncement made about leather in regards to razor strops from a consumer.

Another opinion given by a manufacturer and expert in said product.

Yup, next time I contract out some work for a IT project, I'll make sure to hire the local baker to set up the data center and get the network engineer to make me some muffins.

Geez - that's a hard call, think I'll stick with, "RUBBISH" - thanks Neil!