Thread: Recommend a strop

I'm in the market for a strop and would love to hear recommendations from other members. Here are my criteria:

Price: $125 or less
Draw: Prefer light/medium but open to suggestions
2nd material: Not required, open to any/all suggestions
Other: Must be available in the US

So what say you brethren? Pictures and links always appreciated, thank you in advance!

Easy, Kanayama 10000, $119 from Aframestokyo. KANOYAMA Kanayama Cordovan #10000 Razor Strop

Tony Miller's fast bridle strops are in the select top few.
He makes them in batches as the hides become available so they're not always in stock but, believe me, they are well worth waiting for. They are also right in your budget. His website is : The Well Shaved Gentleman.
A great strop is a key tool.
Happy hunting!

Pete <:-}

I'd be in the Kanayama camp for that money...

Cordovan against any other type of leather is a no-brainer. I've got a Latigo from T. Miller, and I'm not a fan!

Originally Posted by Druid

I'd be in the Kanayama camp for that money...

Whoa hey now! I didn't say I want to spend the whole budget, but it is available if the right item is out there. If there is a strop that's 95% as good as the Kanayama for 50% the price I would probably opt for the less expensive of the two. Of course in six months I may also kick myself for doing so!

I guess, once again.... I'll have to be the lone voice in the wilderness. I'd go with an SRD English Bridle strop.... but, I think I might get the premium linen component (only because I'm not convinced of the poly version...yet). Your choice as to length.... I got the regular length and I'm happy with it. It took me a long time to get used to the strop, it was quite fast to start, but after a few months of use, a nice light draw has developed and I can keep things under control.

I've considered Kanayama..... I may well spring for one yet... but only because I want one.... need has no bearing on the issue... the SRD is fine, I don't NEED anything else.

I'm also keen on trying out the Roo strop from SRD, no idea if it's any good or not, but it's well spoken of here... as are all the other leather types at SRD, come to think of it.

I do have a couple of Heirloom strops from Tony Miller, from back when he shipped to Canada. I love them to bits, but as he no longer ships to Canada, I'm stuck with SRD, and they do a great job as well.

I really really really like custom strops (having lived in Norway, I'm really keen on Scrupleworks, but there's this $$$ thing again) .... but the more I like a strop, the more likely I am to ruin it with a single "oops" moment. For me... it has to be something affordable and easy to fix.... SRD strops fit that to a T. Nick a strop... no problem, just order the leather bit from SRD..... wanna try another linen or leather component, again... it's available from SRD and you don't need to do surgery to get it swapped out... Nope, SRDs aren't the Mona Lisa's of strops, but it won't kill you if it gets damaged.... replacement parts are but an email away.... OK, + a few shekels.....


My thoughts, and mine alone.

Kaptain "Aw nuts... my irreplaceable strop has to be replaced...... again!" Zero

I'll throw my hat in for an SRD, I forget exactly which one I got, either the natural 3" or premium II. Can't comment on the draw with minimal experience with other strops. But it isn't suctioning the blade to a stop nor smooth as a buttered doorknob. I have the "matched webbing" and it seems alright. My pull to tautness was a little heavy handed on one side, so it is kinda warped. The option to replace it (ridiculously easy) is the bee's knees. Great quality and the hardware is tough.

I haven't used a kanayama, but bought one about an hour ago, out of want not need.

Go to your local horse tack shop and have them cut you a piece of latigo leather 3.5 x 30". Ask to look first to get the smoothest leather they have. Cut a handle on it, punch a hole on the other end for a thong, and viola, you have a top notch strop for $12. (Avoid Tandy Leather b/c the finished side is too rough.)

Originally Posted by jbtusa

a top notch strop for $12.

Add a decent handle, and a canvas side, and... you still have a Latigo strop. Honestly, while this may work for you, it is not something I would recommend to anyone.

The extra long English bridle strop, however, is a gift that keeps on giving. Although I have "a few" other strops, this is the one I have been using more or less exclusively for many years.

I even got an English bridle pad for my modular SRD strop. Yes, the leather is that nice.

Originally Posted by wxc1006

What makes the price break between the natural and other strops? Does anyone here own a "natural" that would care to chime in?

The leather. Some leathers are far more expensive than others. While a heavy investment may make sense for gloves, or shoes, the leather itself does not make any noticeable difference when it comes to strops, as long as it is flat, and not too thin. The latter being the reason I am not a fan of the Roo or Buffalo strops. The Natural is simply nice. It takes a little while to break in, but once broken in, it works really well. Unless, for some reason, you want massive draw, in which case you should go for Latigo. But I have always found too much draw cumbersome.