Thread: Kanayama Strop

When I say 'strips of leather' I don't mean that in a derogatory way

Originally Posted by jaym72

Thanks for that. So do these Japanese strops have handles. I've had a quick look at the website and from the photos (although I'm looking on my phone) they just look like strips of leather albeit high quality...

It is like men's shoes, they are all shoes and they all perform the same basic function but some are of a higher quality .... and performance .... than others.

Originally Posted by jaym72

Thanks for that. So do these Japanese strops have handles. I've had a quick look at the website and from the photos (although I'm looking on my phone) they just look like strips of leather albeit high quality...

No handles. And thats fine. I have strops with all kinds of handles and the no-handle strops rocks still. Just grip it with a couple fingers and lean back, not full body-weight, but just enough to keep the strop taught.

Thanks Blix. Wondering if it might be worth trying one once I get the hang of stropping.

Handles are cool as long as the stropping area is like 19 or 20". With some of the vintage strops that were meant for the non pro barber the handle took up what would nave been part of the stropping area. I had one like that once and it was a hassle. Most strops with D rings and handles nowadays have the length in the stropping area so it probably isn't an issue but do keep it in mind when you're shopping around.

I have used both with and without handles. What I found is that the WIDER strops are better without handles, because you can "cup" the strop ever so slightly with your hand. Of course, this can also be a detriment if you are not careful.

Handles on the wide strops, make that impossible, and can often LEAD to cupping. and if the leather should develop a "cup" in the other direction, you could not compensate as easily. Know what I mean Jelly Bean?

What I would say about the "Tokyo special" is if you took 20 strops and lined them up together and they were all different meaning horse, cow, latigo, seal, moose, whatever and you were blindfolded when you got to the Kanayamara you would know it instantly. But does it hone differently than any of the others? I don't think so.

I have to say that I do have the 30k version and another one Genuine Shell Cordovan from Horween. I have to say that when you try the Kanayama you will not use other strop from another brand. Very soft and it works very nice.
K

Originally Posted by kiruiz

I have to say that I do have the 30k version and another one Genuine Shell Cordovan from Horween. I have to say that when you try the Kanayama you will not use other strop from another brand. Very soft and it works very nice.
K

Sure sure, bring a post back from the dead to rub it in to the rest of us who don't have one. (Kanayama are no longer sold by the normal vendors...quality appears to be slipping due to age)

Originally Posted by ryanjewell

Sure sure, bring a post back from the dead to rub it in to the rest of us who don't have one. (Kanayama are no longer sold by the normal vendors...quality appears to be slipping due to age)

That's such a shame. I read that post too and wished they still made them well. I would have loved to have had one but it would be a few years away... Maybe someone else will take the reigns and step it up???