Thread: Pride Commeth Before the Fall

By 6:15 am, it was already a bad day. As I stood before the mirror, lather on my face, my strop in one hand and my blade in the other, I was feeling rather proud of myself for keeping my strop in such great condition. Not a scratch on her, I was thinking to myself, "I can't even imagine how one would accidentally nick his strop." At that very moment, as I flipped my Diamondine on her spine, the business end slit into my beautiful Tony Miller 3 1/2" Red Latigo, leaving a nasty, deep 1/4 inch laceration on the edge! The disbelief was astounding. I quickly composed myself and then let out a streak of well-intended pofanity. How could I have done this! As I went on with my routine and raised my blade to my neck, I tried very hard not to think, "I can't even imagine how one would accidentally slit his jugular."

Sorry to hear that!

I had the same thing happen with my SRD black latigo. It was mint for months, and then I caught it with the tip of my TI Spartacus.. Grr!

Hope you can repair the damage!

Originally Posted by leadduck

By 6:15 am, it was already a bad day. As I stood before the mirror, lather on my face, my stop in one hand and my blade in the other, I was feeling rather proud of myself...

Sorry about the mishap, but what a great opening line for a Raymond Chandler type of novel - stunning! The working title "Pride Cometh Before The Fall" is great, too.

Regards,
Neil

Gentlemen:

You have company in slicing up a fine strop. Mine could not be repaired and I had to retire it.

Then again, it was time to buy a new strop, anyway. So keep up the spirit, my dear Leadduck.

Regards,
Obie

A cut strop is still a very good strop. I feel your pain though, I've cut my Tony Miller up bad when I started straight shaving, oh well, it adds character!

Aside from the tiny nicks, more like wear, I was getting on the part of the strop closest to my body, and at the hand held end, I had never nicked my strop. Then one night at 1:30 AM or so, dog tired, I had just finished honing a razor. I didn't intend to shave but wanted to try the celebrated HHT on it so I went in and did 50 linen and began the 50 leather. Towards the hanger end a moments inattention and I miscued. I cut a flap into my strop. Argggh ! You know the feeling. Happily with contact cement the following day the flap was really imperceptible. I didn't even need the pumice stone to smooth it out. Gook luck with your strop, you may be able to repair it or, worst case scenario, replace the leather component from Tony.

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

Sorry about the mishap, but what a great opening line for a Raymond Chandler type of novel - stunning! The working title "Pride Cometh Before The Fall" is great, too.

Regards,
Neil

My dear Neil:

I second the opening line for a Raymond Chandler type novel. What a great line. Chandler, by the way, is one of my absolute favorite authors. I think I've read just about everything he wrote — several times.

But then, back to the strop. Time for a new one.

Incidentally, Mr. Miller, I hear you make excellent strops.

Regards,
Obie

leadduck,

I can't tell you how much tea I spat as I read your post and laughed aloud.

Not because of your situation, but because of your carefully crafted story. Especially the comment about cutting your jugular - just precious.

I came back from Lynn's house after having witnessed how a master strops. I emulated his method without having the muscle memory and timing down to support it, and within seconds, my beautiful red latigo strop looked like hamburger. I had been stropping for 3 months without a scratch. Then within seconds, my pride and strop were both ruined.

Ah - lessons learned.

David

Thank you for writing this thread. It's a good reminder for me to really pay attention to my strops.
Especially since I mostly strop on vintage strops and they can't be replaced.

Thanks for the support guys. I'm learning to live with it. I've never read Chandler but I'm thinking I may start.