That you would choose Shell Cordovan Horween or Kanayama Cordovan?
That you would choose Shell Cordovan Horween or Kanayama Cordovan?
The Kanayama is a wonderful piece of leather in the 80,000. It is not only the shell cordovan itself, but the treatment the maker applies to it that characterizes the end product.
I have the Kanayama 90,000 It is a beautiful piece of leather. Highly recommended, if you can find one.
What are the price points of each? or is cost no object?
Kanayama is a winner if you can find one. Good luck!!!:y
If not 80 000? Kanayama # 3 or 3000?
I have a Kanayama 3000, and I've been told that it is identical to the strop used by TI in the final prep of their razors. I am very happy with mine and I hope your search will be successful.
It is like buying a car with cloth seats and no chrome, or with leather seats and extra chrome. With the 80,000 the cordovan is the best that can be had and there is also a suede strop as well as the heavy linen. The 90,000 is the same but two or three inches longer. I believe the thickness is greater on those too. Anyway, I have been very satisfied with the Kanayama.
I just wondering how many people actually have or had real horween shell cordovan strop? I emailed them a year ago or something with the question how about making strop for me - I got polite " no way" answer. Keith, as far as as know, not making them a lot. An opposite to that kanayama strop was and is available if you want one... I don't think many people had them both at the same time and can compare apples to apples.
A well made shell strop is a shell strop,they all work well and cannot be compared as to how they function.
Fully understand how Price, status and looks sway people tho.
I have the 3000 with the suede second and it is a superb strop in every sense of the word. I also have the 80000 and it is nice step up but in all honesty the edges coming off it are no better than the edges coming off the 3000.
In addition to the Kanayama's and a multitude of SRD strops in various forms I have the Horween Shell in cordovan that
Jerrod has on occassion. The Horween cordovan has just a touch heavier draw than the Kanayama strops but I find the edges to be almost identical between the two strops.
Edited to add: The Kanayama suede secondary is, imho, one of the most beautiful pieces
of leather I have ever seen and used as the pre-strop to any finished leather it gives an edge that I think is better than any of my cotton, natural linen or other secondary fabrics.
Yes, the Kanayama is the finest strop out there IMHO.
My 90000 sees use almost daily:)
The numbers on them indicate thickness basically.
The stropping surface is more or less identical wether it is a 30K or a 90K.
The 70-80-90K are the thickest, around 5 or 6mm if I remember correctly.
The 10-20-30K are 3mm or thereabouts, while the mid-range is about 4mm or so.
The difference between the two is really processing as far as the leather goes. I have the kanayamara #3. I don't have the Horoween strop though I have it in shoes and watch bands.
Happily my flirtation with strops is over and I'm truly serious when I say that. I've given away most of the strops I had and just have around 7 or so. The kanayamara is a very fine strop but in the end they all do the same job.
Thank you TBS for the above post. myths and dragons need to be exposed for what they really are
Thanks Birnando for explaining what the different numbers denote with the Kanayama strops. I have a few of Keith's @ Hand American strops. Some of the earlier and the last one that was being distributed by Classic for a time. It was a Horween cordovan and I think the others are as well. Keith has told me that it is very difficult to get cordovan shell from Horween because the shoe companies have first dibs.
Anyway, like thebigspendur, I also have a cache of vintage pro barber strops. High quality shells and what have you. I've got them from Tony Miller, SRD and they are great strops and they do all do the same job but the kanayama 80,000 is luxury. BTW, I had a 90,000 and couldn't bring myself to use it so I sold it. The 80,000 IIRC is the same material but standard length. The 90,000 is longer. I picked one up and have forced myself to use it ..... and glad I did.
Also, as Bob said above, that Kanayama secondary suede is a masterpiece.
Today I received my horween shell cordovan strop. I don't have kanayama strop and can't compare myself, but man, this is damn nice piece of leather, really, what a beauty!
I have both and the shell cordaven is easily my favourite.. its my main strop... reason why just the feel and the results i get
I have the 10,000, 30,000, 50,000 and a couple other Kanayama's. They all perform very well. Very slick at first with good results all the way through break in.
Have fun.
Guys:
In my particular case I used to have both. But my personal pref, is for the Kanayama. Horween is nice leather too but the final product when they prepared the leather for me is not that good. The surface on some Horweens looks like holes in otehr words is not completly flat. In the Kanayamas that's not the senario. In my case I used to have the 30k and the 3 versions. I love both of them, My other second and final strop is a Tony's cow hide one. Best and final combination.
thanks
K