Thread: My new Neil Miller

Stropping surface of my Neil Miller shell is 17". Overall with handles is more naturally. Works slick as a whistle.

Mine has 18 inches from snake -to snake. This is measured thru the bubblewrap as I have vowed to not open til Father's Day!
(it looks awesome thru the bubblewrap! )

Had my Neil Miller strop for a bit now and it has been a absolute pleasure to use. I believe I get more feedback on the condition of the edge than with my other strop. It does not hurt any that it is also extremely well crafted to boot. Having long arms I requested a long one and got 23 inches of useful stropping surface. Yes, I grew up playing in the trees.

Bob

Tell you guys something, I just checked the stropping surface on a bunch of strops and it is virtually identical.
Neil Miller, SRD Premium 1, Tony Miller horse, Kanayama 80,000, Keith DeGrau Old Dog, C-Mon (vintage) Red Imp, Certifyd Russian, Dubl Duck, Koken shell and a few others, all 16" between the logos. I probably use 14 or 15".

I had a Kanayama 90,000 and it was, IIRC, 3" longer than the above standard. Aside from being afraid to use it for fear of nicking it. I finally sold it since I felt that the added length threw me 'off' of my stroke. Kind of like all risers in stairways are the same height, so that we can unconsciously go up the stairs without tripping.

Of course if we can walk and chew gum at the same time, I guess we can get used to a longer strop. It is just that I use a rotation so the standard length is easier for this old man. OTOH, no matter how long it is I guess I would still use the same amount of stroke. Love that stropping and them strops.

Jimmy

I have a narrow vintage Marshal Wells Zenith strop with 14 inches of useable stropping surface that I don't use because it is too short and I don't like doing X strokes. My main strop for a year before my Neil Miller was a 3 inch English bridle leather strop with about 21 inches of usable real estate between the Chicago screws. I liked the width but found myself having to watch that I did not hit the Chicago screws with the blade on occasion. With Neil's strop I finally got one that is truly a comfortable length for me. Neil kindly gave me the option of having his logo on the handle which also helped. Sorta sounds like the three bears story don't it. I can say I truly can see the point of a custom brush or razor if you really know exactly what you want. Still haven't figured out what I would want in a custom brush or razor but my banker says that is a good thing.

Bob

For all you guys bragging about your long strops ,,,,it's all in the stroke.

This hide is new on my Lipshaw Microtome. Made by Neil Miller the coolest cat around. Its like that Dovo Russian leather but much finer texture. The greatest stuff on earth. Nice slow resistant draw feel, and strops a blade better then anything else I tried.
I would never buy from any other maker but Neil.
As I told my friend when I die be sure to tell my crappy family to bury me in a Neil Miller leather bound casket Har!!!
Darl (Tarkus)

Yes, If one is lucky enough to have a Lipshaw microtome strop, I am pretty certain that Neil is the only game in town.
His strops fit perfectly and all have fine characteristics. A good deal, as well!

Wow sharptonn.......that will give a man strop envy.

That's more leather than is natural for one man to own.... What are you up to Sharptonn?

On the topic of strop length, when I strop my arm moves from the elbow - there's not a lot of shoulder movement - and I kind of make a windscreen wiper motion. I haven't measured what that movement works out to be from point to point, but I'd hazard that it is maybe only 15" maximum. So for me a nice ergonomic strop length needn't be any longer than maybe 20" end to end.

James.