Thread: Cordovan strop life

I bought my first Kanoyama cordovan strop in 2009, it's marked as a "3" inside the gold wreath. I've liked it so much that last year I bought a Kanoyama 80,000. Kind of like you, as a "backup" because I wasn't sure how long they'd still be making them, or still be worth buying even if they were making them. Plus I wanted the nice thick suede strop that it comes with. And I'm honestly a spoiled man-child that just loves and appreciates all things strops and stropping. I even strop already sharp and stropped razors, just for relaxation. I'm sure others here have the same affliction. So owning at least one Kanoyama cordovan strop at some point is a given for someone like me.

Other than being very careful with it to keep it nick-free all that time, I haven't done anything specific to take care of it. It has hung in a centrally air-conditioned/heated house, mostly in my bathroom, or adjacent bedroom during the brief times it has been out of my daily strop rotation. I hand-rub it occasionally, not to treat it, but just because I just like the draw feel when it's warm. While I haven't used it daily during those 10 years, I've certainly used it regularly all that time, and it looks and feels to me the same as the first day I got it. Pristine.

The 80,000 Kanoyama is thick and luxurious and cool and has it's own thing going, but I confess I actually still prefer the pure glass-slick texture of my little entry-level "3" Kanoyama. Great and unique strops, and it will be a sad day when they stop making them.

I've put my kanayama through the ringer with leather cleaners etc.
Now I do nothing to it but strop on it, no hand rubbing.
The sheen is there and it seems to have no draw.
The only thing I might do, down the line is a damp cloth wipe, semi soaking it.