Razor Strop Blade Sharpener, Top Grain Cowhide, 2.5 x 23 Inch, Brown, IRS127

I FIRST NOTICED THAT THE HARDWARE IS NOT THE GREATEST BUT IT IS NOT GOING TO BREAK AND IT DOES THE JOB IT IS SUPPOSED TO DO. THE LEATHER IS A REALLY HIGH QUALITY NAPA LEATHER AND NICE AND THICK. THIS IS GREAT FOR ANYONE TO USE AND NOT A BEGGINERS STROP. THERE IS NO SUCH THING.A BEGINNER NEEDS A STROP JUST LIKE THE SEASONED USER.THIS IS A REVISED REVIEW I ALREADY DELETED MY FIRST REVIEW??. A THREE INCH STROP IS EASIER TO USE BUT THEN YOU NEED TO CONSIDER CUPPING. THE WIDER THE STROP THE MORE CHANCE OF CUPPING. SO THIS IS FINE AT 2.5 INCHES. I PURCHASED A BUFFALO BRAND STROP FROM ROYAL SHAVE BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WOIULD BE BETTER BECAUSE OF THE PRICE TAG(150.00) THE HARDWARE LOOKED BETTER BUT THE LEATHER WAS TERRIBLE AND IT HAD A DEFECT IN IT. I RETURNED IT BUT THAT WAS A NIGHTMARE. THAT EXPERIENCE ALONE WAS A WAKE UP CALL AND I REALIZED WHAT A BARGAIN THIS STROP REALLY WAS.IF YOUR NEW TO WET SHAVING WITH A STRAIGHT EDGE? YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT A STROP IS PROBABLY MORE IMPORTANT THAN A HONE. HAVING A STROP IS AN ABSOLUTE NECESSITY!!!!! A STONE IS NOT BECAUSE YOU CAN ALWAYS SEND YOUR RAZOR OUT TO GET SHARPENNED EVERY 3-6 MONTHS BUT YOU WILL NEED TO STROP YOUR RAZOR BEFORE AND AFTER EVERY SHAVE. AFTER SHAVING IS JUST A GOOD WAY TO MAKE SURE YOUR EDGE IS DRY BECAUSE THE STROP WILL WICK AWAY ANY MOISTURE IF STILL PRESENT. ALSO USE A PAPER TOWEL TO DRY YOUR BLADE.WHEN YOU STROP YOUR RAZOR THERE IS NO NEED TO BE FAST ABOUT IT. TAKE YOUR TIME AND DO IT RIGHT AND TRY NOT TO CUT YOUR STROP. SEVEN ROUND TRIPS ON THE CANVAS SIDE AND FIFTY ROUND TRIPS ON THE SMOOTH LEATHER SIDE. LIGHT PRESSURE BUT NOT FEATHER WEIGHT PRESSURE. HANG YOUR STROP AT A HEIGHT SOMEWHERE AROUND THE HEIGHT OF YOUR BELLY BUTTON. SPEED WILL DEVELOPE OVER TIME. YOUR MAIN CONCERN IS DOING IT RIGHT. WHEN YOU NICK YOUT STROP ON THE SIDES IF IT IS A PROBLEM JUST SAND IT DOWN WITH SANDPAPER UNTIL IT IS SMOOTH. I HAVE NICKS ON MY STROP AND I DON"T DO ANYTHING TO REMOVE THEM.GOOD LUCK AND REMEMBER THIS IS A GREAT STROP REGARDLESS OF YOUR EXPERIENCE LEVEL. ALSO YOU MAY WANT TO RUB STROP DRESSING ON IT TOO.

I purchased this strop while looking for a second strop to use, in order to allow me to try out some pastes. My original came with the set when I purchased my straight razor.This strop is significantly nicer. It has a rather long usable area compared to my other strop and others I have seen. Unlike some other reviewers stated, the logo on the one I received was not too large and did not interfere with the use of the strop. Strop was shipped by Amazon.com in a long sturdy box, so it was not rolled up or twisted like I was worried about when I ordered it.The leather side is flat and smooth. The canvas side is stiff and flat as well. The handles are comfortable, the hardware is secure. I couldn't ask for more out of a strop, and I definitely wouldn't pay the prices some places ask for 'nicer' strops that I would not consider nice than this one.Lets not forget how BASIC a strop really is. Honestly, if you have a nice heavy leather belt it would work just as well (Ive talked to people who do this actually, with good results). This is just easier due to the handles and hardware.If you are looking here, dont hesitate to buy this one. Price is better than you will find elsewhere and dont be fooled by the price, this is a quality item.

I used a couple of 'cheap' starter strops for several years, until I decided to upgrade at all. Utility goes a long way in my book.I picked up the Fromm 9 months ago, and I like the results. It's a good hybrid of reasonable price and decent construction. No it's not ready to use out of the box: It does take some break-in, and a bit of effort to whip it into shape. But then again, if I was looking for quick & easy shaving, I'd probably be using my double-edge razors, rather than my straights. :D A quality shave is the goal... ok, and there's a certain appeal to all the ceremony and minor maintenance associated with straight-razor shaving.I run my antique straight razors 25 passes on the canvas, and another 50 passes on the leather, and I'm good to go (I do them before shaving only, not after). When I want a touch-up I run them on a four-sided leather paddle strop with white/green/red compound. And when I need some more extensive sharpening, I break out the Norton 4k/8k & chinese 12k waterstone.I didn't have any issues with cupping with my Fromm. Construction & quality were fine, and sufficiently well-made to likely still be perfectly functional in a few decades. As to break-in, I removed the canvas strop, and used the Williams Shave Soap approach, rubbing with a glass bottle (Williams has tallow, improves draw), and then applied a strop dressing, and applying lather again. Came out quite nice for my purposes.My son gifted me with a few nicks (playing at 'sharpening' a razor), so I took a course grain natural pumice stone to the stop to level out the nicks. I'll tell you what, I was a lot less concerned about his 'damaging' a $36 strop, than I would have been if it'd been some $150 model.

My throw-back son shaves with a straight-edge blade. He has his great-grandfather's strap (likely a hundred years old) but finally had to admit it wasn't effective anymore. He hung that one on the wall as a keepsake. He picked out this one. He's had it for close to a year now. Not sure what he's doing for shaving these days (he's living in a dorm), but he hasn't asked me to replace this strap. It must be doing the job okay. Good on you if you're forgoing plastic razors and using this method instead! As far as I know, this strap keeps the blade sharp and your face clean.