Thread: Portland Razor Co. New Strop

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Looks like a decent strop, what kind of leather is it?

Anyone else able to comment on their strops? I'm in the market of updating from my Rup Razor strop I've been using for 2+ years (Unfortunately don't have enough monies for a Neil Miller) and being originally from Oregon makes PRC a company I desire to do business with.

I havethis strop. It works well, and the clip design in nice. I keep the anchor attached to s towel rack, and attach the strop every time I use it so I can keep the strop out of sight when not in use.

Originally Posted by Denvernoob

... I was trying to point attention to was a slight design difference from most other strops on the market today which allows the relocation of the anchor point to either end of the strop ...

Basically, it has d-rings both ends and comes with a scissor hook attached to a cord so that it can be hung from a door hook or similar, making the swiveling scissor hook hang upside down.

IMHO what it does is make manufacturing costs less. You normally see the swiveling hook, on new and very, very old strops incorporated into the d-ring somehow, which is the best place for it, again in my humble opinion.

Why does it save costs? Well, those d-rings are not made specifically for strops, and they are close-ended or cast in one piece, or have the joint (in the middle of the straight bit) welded shut. If you want to attach the swivel you have to invest in a rebar cutter or similar to cut the notch. In the pic of the strop we are talking about, no money was spent in attaching the swivel scissor hook, nor any money invested in machinery to make a notch cut.

I don't really think (just my own opinion again) that attaching the strop upside down by one handle d-ring or the other is much of an innovation - if it was, they would have done it 100 yrs ago, at least. It makes for an unwieldy strop, jointed at the end. To use the inner face of the webbing for example you would have to hold the d-ring that couples the two components, then loop the leather bit over your arm. Doesn't seem very ergonomic to me, besides if the leather component gets in the way then it is an accident waiting to happen.

Besides, there are lots of other strops with three d-rings out there - if you wanted to use one of these in an awkward, unergonomic way you just have to screw a cup-hook into the door jamb or similar. Doesn't matter if you cannot flip the strop over, why would you want to? You get access to the other two two sides when you hang it in the conventional fashion (placing the swivel hook over your newly installed cup-hook?) and flipping is restored.

Lastly, it does not help one iota in putting the strop away or 'hiding' it - all strops can be hung from a cup hook and be taken off it equally easily, and you can even thread a thong through the closed eye of the hook and hand it over a door handle or wall hook if you so desire.

Only my opinion of course.

Regards,
Neil

I wish the strop makers would make attachments like they did 150 yrs ago

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

I wish the strop makers would make attachments like they did 150 yrs ago

I agree, they are excellent. They look smart, they are nicely made and assembled and they are the real deal.

The closest you get these days is than folded-over pressed thin plate metal with a hole in the centre, with a cut-off (sharp end) nail going through another hole in the fold with its end being bent into a circle with a cheaper kind of dog lead hook in the centre of the circel.

Don't get me wrong - they do what is necessary, but boy, do they look cheap - in my opinion of course. And you find them on some very high-end strops - amazing!

No doubt the original claw grips and D-rings with a flattened high point to take the claw could be made - it is relatively cheap to get sand-cast pieces made in third world countries, but tooling set-up, shipping and minimum order would make the price prohibitive. And you would have trust them to deliver...

Regards,
Neil

Actually was going to make some as above,in retrospect.far more work than anticipated

Having finally decided between a new Hart and a new PRC razor (just purchased the Hydra 6/8 in walnut and blued steel), I couldnt resist and bought their Deluxe English Bridal Strop. I have a Herold which is very good but doesn't look quite as stout as the PRC, I just hope I don't nick this one as Portland is a heck of a long way from Cumbria, and shipping costs add 50% to any purchase made!