Thread: Kanayama Documentary

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Strops are strops,leather is leather,all i have to say.

So a piece a latigo, English bridle, Cordovan, Roo, Cowhide is all the same.......... so all these strop makers been pulling our legs right along.

Strop on pig leather.

Just a question to ponder...how many different types of strops using different material were there in the "old days"?

Several different in the old days. Horween cordovan, cow, etc.

Originally Posted by Catrentshaving

Just a question to ponder...how many different types of strops using different material were there in the "old days"?

thebigspendur can probably provide more variations but right off the top of my head ..... I've seen horsehide and horse shell, which I think dominated the industry, cowhide, what we refer to as latigo nowadays. Sealskin, pigskin, elephant hide, buffalo hide ....... maybe more. I know I've seen tne spendur say that he has tried them all and they are all good.

I do know that there is a difference in strops based on how the maker treats the leather. I've had enough new and vintage to see that there is a difference. OTOH, they were all good. In that sense I guess it could be said that they are "all the same", but some, IME, are better than others. YMMV.

When it comes to results all quality strops do the same thing no matter the critter or finish. Of course there is a difference between them however and that difference is in the feel and mechanics of using them depending on the finish and size. Also some have a luxury feel to them and of course when you spend more for something you expect it to perform better which gives you some physiological advantage too. There are many factors the same as with a straight where differing sizes and grinds and styles may cause you to use them a little different giving you a different result.

[QUOTE=thebigspendur;1162681]When it comes to results all quality strops do the same thing no matter the critter or finish. Of course there is a difference between them however and that difference is in the feel and mechanics of using them depending on the finish and size. Also some have a luxury feel to them and of course when you spend more for something you expect it to perform better which gives you some physiological advantage too. There are many factors the same as with a straight where differing sizes and grinds and styles may cause you to use them a little different giving you a different result.[/QUOTE
Maybe a better term would be Psychological.

Originally Posted by rickboone

Several different in the old days. Horween cordovan, cow, etc.

Exactly. And in the end it came down to the quality of construction and the desire of the consumer to have something different. But in the end, they basically did the same thing. A Timex serves the same purpose as a Rolex, but the desire for some is to have a Rolex.

Wasn't the point of this thread, about how kanayama strops are made(watching the man in action)? And not that it's a magical or different leather.

I still want to watch the video, as I would any other artist at his craft.

:-)

I couldn't dig it up for you but I suspect what he was doing is called burnishing. It is making the leather smooth. It can only be done on full grain leather. No matter what he is doing the most important part of leather is the tanning process. If that is done right his job is easy. More labor than art.