Originally Posted by
Steve56
My Kanoyama 3 doesn't have gold wash on the bottom, and it's maybe 5-6 years old. I also have a quite old strop with the remains of the gold llama stamp at top and H. & H. Grinding Co Cleveland, OH and '828' inside a laurel wreath(?). This strop is a harder leather and feels very much like a TM Fast Bridle rather than the velvety feel of many modern Kanoyamas. I assume that it's from the 1950s or early 1960s, a Google of the company does not reveal anything.
I think maybe that if you're wanting a certain 'feel' to a strop, age might not be the way to go about it. Kanoyamas vary in draw, I assume because of the individual pieces of leather. Some are fast, some moderate in draw.
I fear that finding the Kanoyama you want is like brushes, razors, and stones; you just have to try several of them and keep your favorites. That's probably not what you're wanting to hear... lol.
Cheers, Steve