Thread: Kanayama strops difference?

I used to be that way when I was younger, but as I grew older, and I'm not that old but life has been good to me, I always ended up getting rid of doubles, so I stopped. I'm not a collector of shaving stuff, this is just an everyday indulgence and more than one of anything is not really necessary, again is an indulgence.

Having said that I get it, I understand the rationale of some in acquiring everything they can. I respect that, is just not that important to me. My priorities are different at this point in my life. My wife and I travel a lot, I enjoy my vintage guitars and other hobbies, so I'm pretty satisfied. Shaving is just part of my daily lifestyle, nothing special, is just there.

I don't like putting monetary value on the things I enjoy, once I do that I don't care for it as much. These strops are beautiful, but I don't care how much they are going to be worth once the guy is gone, I just don't. I already made my money, now is time to enjoy the strop. If it gets nicked, so be it, is part of learning this beautiful shaving style.

:-)

Your right, it's not about the money so much as the exclusivity that goes with a finite product. Some guy might have a '68 Camaro, he'd not part with it for anything. If Kanayama Strops were not so well made and were commonplace and they had an on-going supply, I'd have just the one hanging on the wall. People often splash out on art, paying ridiculous prices for something that only the eye can appreciate (Excepting sculpture) So it is with these strops, when you take your time and examine them, they are extremely 'perfect' the attention to detail, the alignment of clasps, being ever so slightly different from piece to piece, proving the 'hand made' title. In my eyes they are more than just a tool, they take place amongst my razors, hones all the bits and pieces that make Straight razor shaving, more than simply a chore. It's the sum of the parts. I wonder how many people who shave with straight razors that own a 7 day set, they send out to be honed every six months, don't use any sharpening other than a simple rudimentary strop. Treating it as a novelty chore? Very few I'd wager. It's fun and an enjoyable pastime, for the many of us with too much time on our hands!

Exclusivity? That's sounds so elite, lol.....But you kind of making it sound like without one of these strops, the "pastime" is less fun. Well, many people I know couldn't afford to drop or wouldn't drop $235.00 or more on a piece of leather (using a 70k pricing), does that make them less worthy? Not in my view, but that's me. I don't feel better than anybody else because I own a Kani strop, is just a strop and it doesn't say a thing about who I am as a person.

With that, I'll move alone. I don't want to get in arguments about class and elitism over a piece of leather. Enjoy it just like I enjoy mine. And if you didn't own one, I would still talk to you, lol.....

A sense of humour is free....feel free to acquire one.

Exclusivity has many meanings. I don't think the author used the one you are referring to.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Exclusivity has many meanings. I don't think the author used the one you are referring to.

Fair enough, perhaps I read into it. My apologies!

When I read words like Elite and Exclusivity on a board they never lead to good things. We all come from different backgrounds, upbringings, an socioeconomic backgrounds. It has nothing to do with humor.

But again, my apologies if I wrongly read into it.

Am I Elite cause I Straight shave while doing wheelies on my Harley? Maybe not but I,m in a very small crowd !!!!! Tc

Originally Posted by tcrideshd

Am I Elite cause I Straight shave while doing wheelies on my Harley? Maybe not but I,m in a very small crowd !!!!! Tc

Now, that's elite, lol.....

Not unless it is a flathead.

Guys,

Now that I have retired, and I have a limited amount of $ to play with, I've been struggling with the idea of getting myself a Kanayama strop. It is rather exclusive for sure, high cost and all that, but it is so highly spoken of, that I'm feeling the draw to purchase one.

Of course, reality has to kick in eventually..... It really is an expensive strop if you go for the higher end. I hemmed and hawed, but in the end I had to admit to myself, no matter how painful it was.... that a Kanayama strop, no matter how much it costs, would not present that much an improved edge over an SRD sourced strop. There *MAY* be a minute difference.... but as most things... there is the case of the diminishing return, throw ten times as much money at something and you might get a 10% improvement, but even that is suspect as we're dealing with the dreaded placebo effect.

It's killing me to NOT buy a Kanayama strop or for that matter a Scrupleworks (I did grow up in Norway after all...), but in the end, I realize that the lowly SRD strop will produce equal results..... Sure... not as exclusive or as nicely made perhaps, but equal performance. And I can purchase one each of their strops for the same cost as ONE high end Kanayama.

I'm still fighting with ordering a Scrupleworks strop, but Kanayama.... sorry... My dad never bought a Kanayama for his business of shaving people and he never had any customers complain.... so, why should I?

Yeah, I'd love an Iwasaki razor, but again... if I'm having a complete bliss moment shave with what I already have, what more can I obtain?

Regards

Kaptain "Back to the Jnat hone that I have not figured out yet" Zero