Thread: Strop advice

Originally Posted by NewellVW

Have the SRD 3" The Natural strop and love it! Very high quality at a very reasonable price.
I like the fact that you can buy other linen and leather options and replace them easily.

Great point here...I shreaded my first strop and had to buy a replacement leather. Keep your form in mind and consider learning on a strop other than your vintage one

I have several. Vintage, high end and value priced. They all do the same thing. You can get some inexpensive strops from several places that are very effective.

Talk to Lynn or Dan they will help you with choosing an optimal strop.

The SRD strops get a lot of love and positive comments, but I'd also have to consider the Kanoyama #3 Cordovan from AFramesTokyo at about $135 for three pieces, or a Kanoyama 2000 from JNS for about $105, though shipping from JNS can be high (DHS, excellent), or slow (regular shipping) if you're order is small.

Cheers, Steve

I have a variety of strops as well, the Kanayama, Illinois, some vintage strops, and what's ended up pretty much being the workhorse/everyday strop for me - the SRD 3" Roo Strop with pressed felt secondary piece.

No matter how much money you spend or how "good" a strop you buy you will never surpass that Red Imp. It's a top of the line vintage strop with some of the thickest leather I have ever seen (I have one). I have a kanayamara 90000 and the result is the same and to tell you the truth if you went to a custom strop maker and wanted a strop made to the Red Imp's specifications you would pay a mint for it and it wouldn't be easy getting a modern version of that.

I have a theory which has been verbally confirmed by a few that Kanayama made strops back in the 50's/60's with whoever's name upon them. For instance, those which have the 'certified check' logo, Llamas, Russians, 5-stars, and strops with many other dealer's names upon them. Yes, the Red Imp as well. Here is the master a long while ago, with a pile of Llamas about.

Thx. Appreciate it. My grandfather was a barber. Guess he knew more than I do

Originally Posted by bandt929

Thx. Appreciate it. My grandfather was a barber. Guess he knew more than I do

Well, about strops, anyway!

Well said sir. Seems to be a common opinion. Thx