Thread: strop fight 2

here we go again!

hierloom 3in artisan vs. srd premium IV bridle

im also interested in WHY one would be preferred. thanks a lot, this really helps me out and keeps me from getting overwhelmed by the variety of stuff out there.

having no experiance or knowledge of either I am going to go with the hierloom 3in artisan because anything with both heirloom and artisan in the name has to trump a mere 'premium'

I don't have either one, but I would go with whichever ones comes in 2.5" rather than 2" or 3"

I've not used the first, but I have used the second and love it.

I've talked with Lynn about strops and the methods he used to develop the SRD strops. He said he's tried pretty much every new production strop worth mentioning and that he gets the best results off the Bridle. Lynn, if I'm misquoting, please come and correct me.

Personally, I trust what Lynn says, as I've but a number of his statements to the test and have yet to find one that is not true. (Except statements like "This is the greatest smelling soap in the world!" - but that is as clearly a statement of personal preference as it is a statement about CarrieM's black ras/vanilla soap (Am I right, Lynn?) as opposed to a universal statement, so in that light, it is a true statement too.)

I GOT THIS ONE GUYS!!

Okay, I actually own both of these strops! I own a TM 3" Artisan Red Latigo, a TM 3" Artisan Horsehide, and a SRD Bridle Strop (Premium IV)

It depends what you want, but for all around, SRD Bridle. Hands down.

I love the results I get from stropping on my TM Latigo, then going to my TM horsehide... I get amazing shaves from that combination... But when I'm in my dorm, or in a hurry, or feeling lazy, I reach for the Bridle. The nylon Poly-web on the back is great friction generation for a cloth component, and the Leather is right in between the Latigo and the horsehide, only it feels... Silkier... I talked to Lynn the other day (he unintentionally sold me on, then sold me, a Bridle) and the Bridle is his every day go to... And from the lessons I got the other day, I'm going to trust whatever he trusts... The man knows his razors... and strops... and stones... and... .... ...

Back on topic... The TM Latigo/Horsehide combo works great, but if you want a strop that is no mess, no fuss, and breaks in quicker than you'll believe, go Bridle.

EPIC WIN! thanks much. 4 replies and it got hit out of the park! plus a little humor to boot. this forum works like a well oiled ma-, wait a tic, well sharpened razor!

Ugh. A bridle strop? Never heard of one till I read this thread and looked them up on SRD, and now y'all have made me really want one!

This place can be a tough neighborhood for a wallet sometimes.

But they're sooooo prettyyyyyyy

" reach for the Bridle. The nylon Poly-web on the back is great friction generation for a cloth component, and the Leather is right in between the Latigo and the horsehide, only it feels... Silkier... "

thanks for the help. what do you mean by btw latigo and horsehide above? also, how do you rate the cordura/poly-web on the back compared to other 2nd devices installed on strops like wool, felt, cotton, linen, etc.? thanks again.

Originally Posted by wilbanba

" reach for the Bridle. The nylon Poly-web on the back is great friction generation for a cloth component, and the Leather is right in between the Latigo and the horsehide, only it feels... Silkier... "

thanks for the help. what do you mean by btw latigo and horsehide above? also, how do you rate the cordura/poly-web on the back compared to other 2nd devices installed on strops like wool, felt, cotton, linen, etc.? thanks again.

Well, for second components, my opinion is Cotton is great for starting out and good all around, Linen is a higher quality cotton for when you want to upgrade, but don't know what you want to do with the fabric (will it paste, will it stay plain...?) Wool Felt (that's one strop, not two) is great for pasted SPRAYS, it loves the stuff. Nylon is excellent for a Crox Crayon, but is also my favorite DAILY material. It generates GREAT friction, without being rough or stiff. I use my TM nylon for Crox and my Bridle Nylon for daily.

What I mean by Between latigo and horsehide: Latigo is really high draw. It's great for stropping, and does it's job excelently, but, because of the high draw, you have to really lighten your stropping at the end of your laps, so that you can get that straight edge. However, horsehide, being EXTREMELY light draw would not make a good daily strop until VERY broken in, becasue it doesn't have enough draw for a RAW edge. So, going latigo to horsehide is great for putting a raw edge into submission, then refining it to excellence. The Bridle is in between a Broken in latigo, and a VERY broken in horsehide. Which is a VERY good thing (horsehide takes a while to break in... a LONG while) The Bridle will make a raw edge smooth, and then make that smooth edge /shine/! It's just a GREAT all around strop. You can't go wrong with it.