Thread: Difference in draw between SRD Latigo and Illinois 127

Originally Posted by RobinK

Brilliant. Let's save money on strops to waste it on soaps. Nobody needs more than the local pedestrian supermarket soap. But a strop is the single most important tool for maintenance, so why misinvest? I honestly cannot see the logic behind your argument.

The logic in his argument is fine If as has been stated multiple times in this thread any strop of good quality will do the job. So why exceed or push your budget to upgrade?

While I disagree about the new production Illinois strops lets forget about them for now. Why tell the op to buy over his budget for an SRD strop when he can buy a different SRD strop that falls inside his budget?

If you want to argue about what he wants to spend the saved money on that's a personal choice. Me I would get the less expensive item and pay may bills.


To the op

The Illinois 127 has a very light draw similar to the star English bridle. I have a couple Illinois strops and have never used any strop dressings on either of them. Rubbing regularly works fine.

However if this is to be a backup strop mainly may I suggest a paddle strop. They can be used everyday fine but also have the added benefit of being very mobile. You can also find some that come with an attached stone or a pasted side to help maintain a razor. Just something to think about.

I know the jemico line was in your budget a year or two ago not sure about now if prices have gone up.

Any of the SRD stops will serve you well,on the other hand there are/were SRPmembers that created works of art when making strops.
All depends on how deep your pockets are

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Any of the SRD stops will serve you well,on the other hand there are/were SRPmembers that created works of art when making strops.
All depends on how deep your pockets are

That's why the OP said he had a $50 budget.

Thanks, guys, for all the advice. I very much appreciate all of it. At this point I'm looking at the 2" Natural from SRD(I actually prefer a narrow strop). It is right at my budget, and I think probably my best choice.
Thanks again.

Originally Posted by Castel33

While I disagree about the new production Illinois strops lets forget about them for now.

That is the exact one I have and it works great for me. I see it lasting for years with just a little rubbing.

I am not trying to downplay Lynn's stuff. I am trying to help someone stay within their budget just like I do. Honestly you could buy two "127's" for less that the price of one of Lynn's low end models.

Let me say again:
I am not knocking Lynn's product line at all. Matter of fact I have a great respect for him as he is truly living the American dream. Finding something that you like and making a presumably good living off it. He is passionate about this and you can tell that by just the way he markets his business.

I honestly find it a little offensive when people sound like you should buy what they tell you too and if you can't afford it what are you doing here? That what I got from that post. I hope I took it the wrong way.

This is getting a little silly.
The OP wants another strop. fact
The OP will not spend more than $50. fact
SRD makes 2 inch strops in either latigo or natural leather for under $50
Illinois 127 strop can be bought also for under $50

They all work that's not going to be disputed.

Quality: SRD leather is thicker,smoother and more supple than Illinois card like leather.

SRD has robust hardware with strong rings and swivels compared to illinois folded piece of tin with a bolt through it that holds the leather in place. and a hanger made out of a bent nail.

SRD strops have removable leather and fabric parts secured with Chicago screws for customization and replacement.

That's what you get for under 50 bucks.

Originally Posted by jsuiters

If you are using the same razor with the same soap and the only difference is the strop over a course of three shaves each would be very quantifiable results. I myself am of the mindset that most wouldn't be able to tell definitively what strop was what.

I might even want to make it so only one person does all the stropping, that would take technique out of the equation also.

Well, if you strop yourself you will still know which strops were used and expectation/confirmation bias may be an issue. Double blind tests are the way to go to test anything remotely reliably, and logistically, sending around strops and razors (for the sake of uniformity), it would be a nightmare. As for the end result, most people will probably agree that the type of strop hardly matters, if at all. It does not necessarily make it true, though, even though that is the likely outcome.

However concerning strops (as well as pretty much every other piece of equipment), there is more to it than just end result. Aesthetics (secondary importance) as well as sturdy craftsmanship, ease and comfort of use (both of primary importance, I would say) also play a large role in stropping - if the act of stropping itself is cumbersome and a displeasure, it takes away from the overall experience of shaving with a cut-throat razor.

Originally Posted by Castel33

The logic in his argument is fine If as has been stated multiple times in this thread any strop of good quality will do the job. So why exceed or push your budget to upgrade?

While I disagree about the new production Illinois strops lets forget about them for now. Why tell the op to buy over his budget for an SRD strop when he can buy a different SRD strop that falls inside his budget?

If you want to argue about what he wants to spend the saved money on that's a personal choice. Me I would get the less expensive item and pay may bills.


To the op

The Illinois 127 has a very light draw similar to the star English bridle. I have a couple Illinois strops and have never used any strop dressings on either of them. Rubbing regularly works fine.

However if this is to be a backup strop mainly may I suggest a paddle strop. They can be used everyday fine but also have the added benefit of being very mobile. You can also find some that come with an attached stone or a pasted side to help maintain a razor. Just something to think about.

I know the jemico line was in your budget a year or two ago not sure about now if prices have gone up.

Originally Posted by jsuiters

I honestly find it a little offensive when people sound like you should buy what they tell you too and if you can't afford it what are you doing here? That what I got from that post. I hope I took it the wrong way.

There are definitely some strong opinions in here, which is not a bad thing. SRNewb asked a specific answer, what the difference in draw is between SRD Latigo and Illinois 127 in order to be able to make a well-informed decision on the purchase of a back-up/second strop, so I see where you are coming from.

Do however note that SRNewb mentioned that this was to be his second strop, a back-up or replacement to a Star strop, so there is no immediate need for another strop, assuming that his Star strop is at least functional. In this case advising 'Save up a bit and spend a bit more on a higher quality strop (ease of use, value for money, quality of craftsmanship)' is a legitimate piece of advice as an alternative for spending $50 on (arguably another) budget strop. As Robin mentioned: a good strop is invaluable when shaving with a cut-throat.

On a personal note, I managed with my 2" Juchtenleder Dovo strop. But I did not enjoy using it one bit. So I got a (used) Illinois 127/827; I forget which one, but it was new (i.e. Fromm) production. Same thing. It worked perfectly fine. But I hated using it. So after a year/year and a half of struggling through using a vital implement that I hated using for every shave, I decided to get a well-made quality strop which I have used for over three years now exclusively, and is a joy to use. Sadly it does not have the option to replace the leather, because I have abused it badly over the last few years. Still very usable, still very enjoyable.

As I am not located in the USA, shipping from SRD is inhibitive. If it were not I would probably have bought one from there due to the leather being easily replaceable.

And as Razorfaust pointed out, SRNewb found his new strop from SRD within budget. So the advice to check out SRD's strop offerings beyond the latigo strops was, in the end, useful and most certainly relevant.

Tho important,never realized that the simple act of stropping was so complex

For me, guys, that draw is of utmost importance, and why I started the thread. I have arthritis, carpel tunnel, and nerve damage in my hands, and particularly my wrists. A heavy draw is not uncomfortable, it is quite painful.
I appreciate all of the advice, and think I have found my answer. I'll post an update when I receive it and have used it awhile, if anyone is interested.
Once again, thanks to all of you. Much appreciated.

Purchased a Tony Miller 2 1/2" Plain Vanilla strop. I have wanted one for a while, but he is frequently out of stock. I just happened to catch them in stock as I was considering this purchase. $50.95, and the quality of the strop is beyond my expectations. Quite lovely. Should last me a lifetime.
Thanks to every one of you who replied, for all of your advice and discussion. Very much appreciated.