Thread: Bison made strop

Hi Raymond,

Thats strange - the video is right in the centre of that page I linked to. It should start automatically I think... Its a Flash Player video, just like YouTube. I've just tried it and it is working, though it is buffering a lot, which it didn't do when I first watched it a few months ago - so maybe the site has a problem!

Regards,

Alastair.

Yea , I cannot figure it out but it is okay because I got all the answers I was looking for anyway, I just got a 60000 from aframestokyo the other day to see what the fuss is about. I cannot wait to try out BOTH of my new strops! I think people like myself tend to get confused and think that cordovan and shell cordovan are then same, hey I know a lot of people who actually prefer hose hide as their number 1! I have a feeling that shell cordovan will remain mine! Only because I refuse to think otherwise! Haha

To avoid confusion:

Shell is not hide. It is a membrane that resides under the hide on the horse's butt. So horsehide is not horse shell. Kanayama uses horse shell. It is not "Cordovan" per se' as Cordovan is a specific finishing process applied to horse shell. Kanayama uses a proprietary process to finish his shell, which results in an excellent, silky finish, but not "Cordovan". Horween uses the historically accepted Cordovan finishing process and therefore, Horween horse shell can be properly referred to as "Cordovan Shell".

Hoping this helps.

I think tou are wrong , there is nothing that says that Kanayama uses shell cordovan , it only says cordovan ( horse hide) cprdovan is a color or style , often confused with shell cordovan

Originally Posted by entropy1049

To avoid confusion:

Shell is not hide. It is a membrane that resides under the hide on the horse's butt. So horsehide is not horse shell. Kanayama uses horse shell. It is not "Cordovan" per se' as Cordovan is a specific finishing process applied to horse shell. Kanayama uses a proprietary process to finish his shell, which results in an excellent, silky finish, but not "Cordovan". Horween uses the historically accepted Cordovan finishing process and therefore, Horween horse shell can be properly referred to as "Cordovan Shell".

Hoping this helps.

Speaking of Kanayama strops...they had a sale on awhile ago for the #3, got one and it's fantastic, really nice.

Went back to think of getting one for a friend, and sheesh, pretty much all of them are out of stock now...I'd heard that they were getting harder to come by due to the makers age, are we seeing the last of these strops?

I think that Mike is right on with at least the high end Kanayama strops being shell. I don't think people are paying $300.00 and up for an 80,000/90,000 because the hide is slightly thicker. Cordovan, the color, is not the color of an 80 or a 90,000 strop. As Mike pointed out, it is one way to finish the leather. As I understand it, that shell membrane, is extremely tough. Think the gristle that you cut out of a beef rump roast because it is too tough to chew. At least I think that is a good analogy. Below is a post Zeth Lent made when he paid a visit to Namoi San's shop, the maker of the Kanayama strops.

Originally Posted by ZethLent

I have been meaning to make a trip to the man who makes all of the strops here in Japan, better known as 'Kanayama' (in actuallity it is Kanoyama with and 'o' not and 'a').

His strops have been used and praised by a few people here and they are known for being top quality cordovan.

After visiting with Mr. Naoumi and his wife I am told that he took over his father's strop business and that his family has been making strops for over 100 years. Now, because demand is quite low he only makes about 20~30 a month and is focusing on other leather goods; wallets etc.

Before I get on to the pics, I brought along my two strops a Tony Miller Latigo and Horsehide strop and my Vintage Argentina. His first comment was on how firm the leather was on the TM. He explained that his strops are all very soft and provide the best possible finish on the razor or other edged blade. Whether the pliability changes anything I don't know but his opinion was that a softer more pliable leather was best. Even his thickest strops were vey soft.

He told me that no matter the markings on his strops ('French Hide' ... 'Five Stars' ... 'Llama' ... 'Special Quality' ... 'Deluxe' ... 'Pelican' ... etc.) they are all horsehide, but not necessarily cordovan.

The non-cordovan ones were very thick (1/4 inch) and very stiff. They were labeld Pelikan and have the outerside of the skin on top (slightly textured). He said that it is more abbrasive than the inner side. The higher quality cordovan have the inner softer side on top.

Zeth is referring to "shell" when he says cordovan. What the cutoff is for cordovan versus horsehide is, in terms of the style number of the strop, is unknown to me. Certainly the higher end must be, and perhaps all the Kanayama branded ones, as opposed to his others, not sure what is what.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...tml#post440344

Then again look at the Pegasus strop that are 300 doars and they are cordovan Latigo, but like the kanayama the high end expensive s one come with 3 different strops material. I am not saying I am certain but I am saying that I think that I may be right, but of Im not then I'm not. I do not own one there for I apologize I'll let you know more on my opinion when I get it. All comments are greatly appreciated! Thanks guys! Have a good work week !

Originally Posted by Phrank

Speaking of Kanayama strops...they had a sale on awhile ago for the #3, got one and it's fantastic, really nice.

Went back to think of getting one for a friend, and sheesh, pretty much all of them are out of stock now...I'd heard that they were getting harder to come by due to the makers age, are we seeing the last of these strops?

Kanoyama-San is around 90 years old and is the single employee of Kanayama Strops. He has no apprentices. Certainly the supply of his products is destined to become very limited. Sadly, sooner than later.

On a tangentially related note, I hope Neil is feeling well enough soon to rejoin us. I miss him.

The stock aoki has is out just because he only gets shipments from kanayama once in a while. When he gets a shipment, then he has a bunch of strops for a while. He's never really had them all the time, and he sells out before other people because he has the best price.