Strops (Reviews)

A budget strop that gets the job done.

The strop itself is a work of art. Torolf is a true Master of the Leatherworking craft. Fit and finish were excellent. Just to look at it is a pleasure. All materials used are top grade from the leather to linen to the hardware and handle. I was asked which color handle I wanted and informed Torolf he could be creative. I was amazed with his choice. The Linen Component is second to none in my opinion. It is fast with a brisk feeling of abrasiveness, and the logo at the top end...

Here's the description from Imperial Shave's site: ___________________________________ Product Description These strops are of the finest quality, the hanger is cast in our own foundry from solid brass and nickel plated, then buffed to a lustrous finish. The strop is a full 3"wide x 30" long. No-one else offers this size. This width allows you to use straight strokes with no need for the X pattern stroke, although you can if you prefer; and the longer length will allow you to...

I'd been in the market for a strop for quite a while. Truth is, we all are and it never ends. I had to treat myself to something and I chose the Legion Roo and Moo strop. I spoke with B&B member, Legion, several times before acquiring this strop, as well as looked at posts from other members here and other sites that had obtained the strop. Initially the design was to be just a Roo strop with Moo merely as a backing as the Roo leather is quite thin. However, testing found that the...

Quality/Workmanship/Design/F&F: The workmanship and quality of leather and hardware on the Ambrose Ebano strop are top notch. I find it to be a 'no frills' strop, but that belies its simple, clean elegance which I find appealing. The dark color of the leather (think Espresso roast) has a striking appearance. There is a tasteful, but discrete stamp with the maker's logo at the barber's end. This is a good-looking strop. Feedback/Draw/Speed/Efficacy: The strop has a smooth and...

Aesthetics: Both strops are 23" long. They have 17" of strop space, 15" if not going over the logo. The secondary strop is made out of a weaved fabric. It is very tightly woven. No loose threads or anything. The red Latigo strop is a great quality leather, enough said. The D-ring handles are quite big. It gives me a great grip to make the strop nice and taught. This is truly one great looking strop. Functionality Both strops perform very well. The weaved fabric does a great job...

First let me start off buy saying that I am not a veteran of straight razor shaving. I'm relatively new with straights, but was shaving with a DE for 6 years prior. I have a Tony Miller 2.5" Red Latigo, an SRD modular paddle, and Larry's poor man's strop. Fit & Finish- I don't know what else can be said about the fit and finish on this strop that isn't in the photos. This strop feels like a piece of velvet when you run your hand over it. What I really like is the design at the end of...

I recently contacted Jose of Ambroseshave.com and asked him if it would be possible or even practical to use a piece of his new leather for a paddle strop. Jose immediately replied back that since it had never been tried for use on a paddle strop he would send me a piece to test and see how it worked. Within just a few days I received 2 pieces of his new leather cut to the size I had given him. When I checked the pieces for size against my paddle it was perfect so I give this a 10 for...

I recently purchased the Kanayama 30000. The strop arrived in a nice box, well packaged. First appearances looked very promising. It is obviously very finely crafted. The leather is absolutely flawless, smooth and silky to the hand. A razor passed on it has wonderful smooth sensation. Draw I found to be about medium. Not as heavy as a TM latigo, nor quite as slick as my vintage Shell. The leather in my 30000 is a little on the thin side. It deforms and stretches slightly under use, so...

I received this strop this morning in the mail, unsure about what to expect, as the manufacturer is a rather self-effacing gentleman. :001_smile We had discussed what dimensions I would like and I asked for something longer and wider than my current commercially bought double sider. What I unpacked was a length of gorgeously finished hide, treated to a wonderfully dark, smooth shine and outfitted with hardware that would surely be a centrepiece in any barber's shop. One end sported a...

I took quite a while to get this review in because it was my first time using a cordovan strop so I didn't really know what to expect as a result. I was so blown away by the Spanish strop Jose (Ambrose) has that I needed to get everything out of this strop to give him the fairest review and make sure it stood up to the success to his Spanish strops. I used 5 different razors to get my final results and my results are a combined of each. WK1; 6/8 Full Hollow Gotta, WK2; TI 69 Frameback...

I was browsing through Ebay and saw a strop that caught my eye. 3 inch English Bridle with webbed fabric for 73 shipped! After a few messages back and forth with the seller, it was on the way to my house. The seller was extremely knowledgeable and helpful, which eased my mind. I own 10 strops and I really enjoy feeling the razor on the different leathers. FINISH OF LEATHER and STROP The strop area is 17 inches which is more than enough room for a nice stroke. The English Bridle...

Here is a review thread on this strop begun by others, with nice photos and everything. http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=154571 I did not see an actual review in the reviews of this strop, though. Hope this is not a repeat review. I agree with azmark and Barbash say in the above thread. First a bit about my strop experience. I have a Tony Miller 2.5 inch wide latigo, with cotton webbing, Dovo white pasted strap--see below. I also have a vintage horse cordovan shell...

this strop is very well constructed from thick cowhide. the strop area is 22" giving plenty of room for longer strokes on the blade. overall length is 32" with the "D" rings(also available with leather handles) the draw on this strop is in my opinion better than my red latigo. this strop really improves the shave of my straights that i have used on it. priced at about $50 it is a absolute great deal and will give years of use and satisfaction. this product made by a true craftsman and...

Not everything is better, here in the Old World. Sure we have the three T, Harris, Dovo, Thiers-Issard, Filarmonica, Mastro Livi and a plethora of vintage pieces. But there's something we haven't got. We have no quality strops. Sure, we have a lot of industrial made strops, but the difference with a Miller or a Kitayama is simply embarassing. For a lot of us Italians this Dovo strop (or his paddle cousin) is the one and the last we'll buy. Sad, huh? :thumbdown I have this strop, double...

Fit & Finish Overall, this is a very polished product. The leather is smooth, even and free of any irregularities. The hardware is clean looking and the fancy chicago screw is a nice touch. The lettering is perfect and I think offering the initials free of cost adds a very welcome personal touch to the strop. The diamond embossed back is even in depth and consistent. However, it does appear that mine was embossed a degree or 2 askew. The embossing is slightly off center near the bottom. I...

As promised, here is my opinion of the balsa strop from Ray: It arrived quickly and well packaged. The quality of the materials and construction are flawless. It effortlessly restored the edge on a tired blade. I found it much easier to use than my pasted leather strop. I actually ordered mine to be double-sided, but Ray felt that this might risk contamination of the 2 different pastes, so he wisely steered me toward 2 separate units, each of which is an efficient, good looking addition...

Let me introduce you to one beautiful piece of craftsmanship, the Tony Miller 2" Artisan "Old School" Strop. I have been using it for several months now and it just keeps getting better and better. When I received it, after some exemplary service from Mr. Miller, the strop was perfect. Packaged carefully, the strop had no kinks, cracks, etc. It feels wonderful in the hands and as you run a straight down it. Fit & Finish: This strop is a work of love. The quality and craftsmanship is...

Discussion thread HERE Aesthetics: As stated, this is a beautiful strop to look at. I particularly enjoy how the design of this strop breaks away from the traditional barber's edge (no handle at all), or dee ring (if one was lucky) strops of yesteryear, yet it still looks like it could be at home in any bathroom or barber shop either today or 100 years ago. I still feel like it could use a bit of tweaking, though, to make it look even more original (although I did not take off any...

Got this second hand from a straight shaver going back to DE . So this strop is not new . http://ruprazor.com/store/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=20&category_id=9&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=32 This Ruprazor 3" Paladin strop gives me a perfect draw . Also I find it restores the edge much faster than my Tony Miller 3" Artisian . I had to strop and strop with my TM and still was not sharp . Always warmed the leather with my skin oils before . It...