Thread: What would be a good "Next Strop"?

I've got my Illinois #127 and it's been doing a heck of a job for me, but I think I'm ready to step up to something that may be more effective.

As I mentioned, the old 127 has been doing a good job for me but it's been battered, nicked, cut, scraped and scratched during the journey. It's a good friend that's taught me a lot.

I'm noticing that the blade on my razor isn't contacting the entire usable surface of the leather as I strop. The surface of the leather appears to have high and low spots. Not really a surprise, I mean it was stripped off of a dead beeve and then treated badly.

I like the linen second strop that came with the Illinois, do most new strops come as leather/linen sets?

Anyway, what's a good next step up? I'm not really concerned about price at this time. I just want a good strop set.

I appreciate any input.

As the second component is quite important too me I would have to rate a next strop for me with that as a must have. My favourite second is a Scrupple Works linen I got as a gift from TC. Next would be Wolstenholme. So now that I have the brand I would then pick the leather. I like a fairly light draw, so likely horse. I have never tried a strop with stuffed handle so that would be the next specified item.
So the readers digest answers is a Scrupple Works horse hide and linen with stuffed handles.
:-)

If you like the draw of your current strop, seek one of the same material. If not, go in the opposite direction.

For my second strop I bought a Neil Miller,RIP, 3 inch Shell Cordovan leather and English linen strop. The Horween shell Cordovan leather has very light fast draw and the English linen appears to be doing a very good job too. I like it enough that I would buy another shell Cordovan and English linen strop if I needed it. Since I can't order another Neil Miller I would look at a Westholme strop with the same components. I don't know if those components work any better than any other combinations of components but they have done the job for me.

Bob

i would go with a shell to use as a finisher after using your current strop.

Originally Posted by RezDog

As the second component is quite important too me I would have to rate a next strop for me with that as a must have. My favourite second is a Scrupple Works linen I got as a gift from TC. Next would be Wolstenholme. So now that I have the brand I would then pick the leather. I like a fairly light draw, so likely horse. I have never tried a strop with stuffed handle so that would be the next specified item.
So the readers digest answers is a Scrupple Works horse hide and linen with stuffed handles.
:-)

I really like my Scrupleworks horse with linen second with barber ends (no handle). Real linen is the second on almost all of my strops. several makers are using real linen, Tony Miller and Westholme are very nice as well.

It is unfortunate that Tony Miller does not ship to Canada.

Tony Miller, Scrupleworks, Westholme, Ezra Arthur all have fine offerings in strops, I have not used an SRD strop so can't comment on those but from my understanding they are very nice strops. As far as Tony Miller goes there are work arounds for getting one.

Originally Posted by RezDog

It is unfortunate that Tony Miller does not ship to Canada.

Is there a reason for that?

Bob

Straight Razor Magazine: Review: Straight Razor Designs - The full strop line would be my first stop. There are two other strop lines worth metioning: Scrupleworks, and The Different Scent. Otherwise, SRD is the best line of strops I know. I know a few.