Premium I, The Stropping Truth

Okay, so maybe not shocking, but I got to visit Mr. Abrams again. One of the finest pleasures of my weekend, and very beneficial. The man is a gold-mine of information, living 20 minutes away from him is great!

Anyways, I'm going to try and keep this short. Lynn gave me a more in depth trip through his Leather Laboratory -The upstairs bathroom- and, man, there's enough strops in there to DROWN in! Full of vintage, SRD, and other makes, this place was a dream for someone like myself, someone who wants to find the best strop they can, but doesn't know enough to make a decision. Well, I have a TM Latigo, and a TM Horsehide, they are wonderful wonderful strops, and Mr Abrams let me play with his Vintage Shell leathers, latigos, horse hide, steer hide, you name it, I got a hands on with it. EVERYTHING. It was a little overwhelming, however, by and far, I got one thing to say.

Bridle Leather + Premium I = a razors edge so sharp it scares me to use it.

Long has it been lauded that Horsehide is the perfect finisher, with it's smooth, light draw, and excellent polish, and that, after a more hardy leather, it makes a brilliant edge.

Move over Horsehide. The premium I feels broken in from the moment you touch it, to the day you die -if you take care of it, of course... duh-. At first glance on SRD, I was curious why they would refer to these strops as Premium, then I got my Bridle. I decided the name was THOROUGHLY merited and deserved. However, the Bridle is Premium IV. Surely all the strops before this one couldn't be such works of art. Well, my good gentlemen, they ARE. The Premium I redefines premium. It is the most amazing finish I have ever seen a razor get. And I saw Mr. Abrams take a razor that I would almost be unwilling to shave with, and go from Bridle to Premium I. Well, I still wouldn't shave with it, but only because the edge scared the pants off me.

I have rarely been able to feel results with the TPT... Too much callous, or my fingers just aren't sensitive enough. Well, this razor taught me what I'm supposed to feel. It was scary to have my thumb on that. It really was.

Wow. That was much longer than I meant it to be.

Bottom Line: Premium I: Impressive beyond measure, The best finishing strop I've ever seen, and I saw it tested against countless other amazing quality strops (and, if anyone tries to jump to this conclusion, it couldn't have been Mr. Abrams trying to create a bias by stropping "better" on the SRD than the rest. He let me, personally, try every one of the strops. Bar none, Not a single one could compare to the Premium I's results)

Okay. I'm done. I promise.

Cheers,
Jeremy

Sounds like you're in love...............:D

Thanks for sharing Jeremy.
Iordered my Premium I last week and it should arrive here any day. I will probably end up with RSI from spending so much time on the P I.

Cheers
Scott

Horsehide in general got its reputation because that's what old time barbers used and they used it because it lasted forever. It's the Cordovan Horse that has that premium reputation.

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Originally Posted by sboness

Thanks for sharing Jeremy.
Iordered my Premium I last week and it should arrive here any day. I will probably end up with RSI from spending so much time on the P I.

Cheers
Scott

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You, My good sir, are one step ahead of me, and soon to be very proud of your strop. The only way you can improve on that strop would be to get one equally as nice with heavier draw to go before it. Might I suggest the SRD Red Latigo, or Bridle (Especially the bridle!)

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Originally Posted by TartanJim

Sounds like you're in love...............:D

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Maybe a little... The Premium I with a Herringbone Fabric is going to be what I get next (once I finish making my pasting combo-strop) and it's going to compliment my Bridle and Webbed fabric WONDERFULLY!

A rare opportunity...i'm both impressed and jealous. :)

Many thanks,

Mac

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Originally Posted by McWolf1969

A rare opportunity...i'm both impressed and jealous. :)

Many thanks,

Mac

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Fortunately not rare for me :D He's close by, friendly, and always keeps the door open, metaphorically of course :P

I must say, Any veteran of this craft can greatly help slacken the learning curve, but this has just been a real treat all around... Not only is he full of information, but he seems to have at least one of every product :P I couldn't decide on which Scents I wanted to try from the SRD soaps... He had one of each on hand, now I know which I like.

It's great!

*needs to stop bragging*

That's awesome Jeremy! Quite a treat. Did you by any chance see his 80 or 90k Kanayama strop?

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Originally Posted by SiRed8

That's awesome Jeremy! Quite a treat. Did you by any chance see his 80 or 90k Kanayama strop?

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Yes.... Those made my wallet ACHE. Because it seemed to know... hey...I'll have to get one of those sooner or later...

WAAAAAAAH :cry:

But they were beautiful. That's for sure.

This is always one of the more fun things for me. It's funny sometimes that folks think that you just go buy leather and make a strop and you're good to go. Well, you are good to go, but how good is always my question. I have spent the last couple years learning about how the different leathers actually perform with the razor stropping and I have compared these results to all of my old vintage strops including the really nice Shell, Pigskin and recently against my Kanayamas. it has been really fun developing the different treatments for each of the leathers that make them perform with the best results and yet maintain their individual draw properties.

For me, this has been a lot like the razor and honing journey's. The more razors I acquire and hone, and the more different hones and processes I try, the more I really learn. This is a much different journey than I have an X and this is what I think or I haven't tried it, but this is what I think. There is so much to learn regarding straight razors and wet shaving, that you can spend a lifetime simply enjoying all the pleasures this environment has to offer.

Lynn

What a great experience for you. I think it's commendable that a guy like Lynn makes time in his schedule to show people the ropes. Only wish that I lived in range as well. Thank you both for sharing.

What is Premium I Leather made of? Is it Horsehide, Shell, Latigo?

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Originally Posted by Domino

What is Premium I Leather made of? Is it Horsehide, Shell, Latigo?

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I am pretty sure it is a material similar to cowhide... It's like latigo in feel, but has the draw of perfectly broken horse... I can't really explain it too well, but it isn't horse.

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Originally Posted by Strikur

What a great experience for you. I think it's commendable that a guy like Lynn makes time in his schedule to show people the ropes. Only wish that I lived in range as well. Thank you both for sharing.

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Yea, he's a great guy, and it's a great experience... Really helped me get some firm footing and figure out what I'm doing... And he's a great host... So many pretty razors to show off :dropjaw:

Where does one aquire a Premium I strop?:)

[QUOTE=Lynn;528942]This is always one of the more fun things for me. It's funny sometimes that folks think that you just go buy leather and make a strop and you're good to go. Well, you are good to go, but how good is always my question. I have spent the last couple years learning about how the different leathers actually perform with the razor stropping and I have compared these results to all of my old vintage strops including the really nice Shell, Pigskin and recently against my Kanayamas.]

Ya know, Lynn, those of us SRPer's who are really strop serious could get greatly in tune with the process and start with a steer. Now that would really be a hands on learning experience. :rofl2::rofl2:

:beer2:

Now, what part is the latigo, anyway? :confused:

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Originally Posted by Bruce

Ya know, Lynn, those of us SRPer's who are really strop serious could get greatly in tune with the process and start with a steer. Now that would really be a hands on learning experience. :rofl2::rofl2:

:beer2:

Now, what part is the latigo, anyway? :confused:

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If I understand correctly -And I'm not positive, so take this with a grain of salt- I believe Latigo is just Steer Hide that has been given a specific treating process

Yes, it is "basically a specially tanned steer hide that is treated with oils and waxes." (Tony Miller, TheWellShavedGentleman.com)

Bill S and I have been bragging on the Premium 1 for a year or so now. That and the SRD hanging felt with the diamond spray. I also have quite a collection of vintage and current strops. I was blown away by the quality and feel of the Premium 1. It just happens to have the perfect draw for my personal preference Some might like more or less but it quickly became my go to strop. Great deal to live close enough to the master to get personal instruction in honing and stropping. If I had the opportunity I would surely take advantage of it.

Jimmy,
How do you compare the draw to the vintage strops? I have a DD shell i really dig.

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Bill S and I have been bragging on the Premium 1 for a year or so now. That and the SRD hanging felt with the diamond spray. I also have quite a collection of vintage and current strops. I was blown away by the quality and feel of the Premium 1. It just happens to have the perfect draw for my personal preference Some might like more or less but it quickly became my go to strop. Great deal to live close enough to the master to get personal instruction in honing and stropping. If I had the opportunity I would surely take advantage of it.

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Bill S and I have been bragging on the Premium 1 for a year or so now. That and the SRD hanging felt with the diamond spray. I also have quite a collection of vintage and current strops. I was blown away by the quality and feel of the Premium 1. It just happens to have the perfect draw for my personal preference Some might like more or less but it quickly became my go to strop. Great deal to live close enough to the master to get personal instruction in honing and stropping. If I had the opportunity I would surely take advantage of it.

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For sure, it is great. And the keen kutter he lent me is in beautiful condition. I've only used it once, but it is smooth as glass, and WORKS, man. That followed by a trip across some Crox, and then the Bridle.. It's a win...

However, once I get my hands on a bottle of Diamond spray, it'll be STone, Diamond on felt, Bridle, (and later) Premium I... Those four together should make the prettiest edge...

And the addictions continue