Kanayama Llama strops

Hi guys

Looking to purchase a new strop and wanted to know your thoughts on the Kanayama Llama strops.

Who owns one or has used one?

Does such a strop make a difference in the edge or is it just an over priced strop?

Also, anyone have or used an Ezra Arthur strop. Another one on my list.....




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I would say they are the best strops in the market currently and very high regarded. It's also the name and the reputation he has in the market

I briefly toyed with the Kanayama idea but then came around to the theory that
I'd rather invest the $$$ in a nice whetstone or even another straight razor.

There are folks who use Tony Miller, Scrupleworks and a whole bunch of other
strops that get along just fine without Kanayama.

I've got an 80,000, had a 90,000 and sold it because I was afraid to use it. Too nice ! I rarely use the 80,000. Mostly an old Tony Miller horsehide/latigo/linen. I've got a bunch of vintage strops, also a few old Hand American that used to be highly regarded, and rightfully so. I'd say any strop made from a quality piece of leather is going to get the job done. Some are of a higher quality of material and workmanship, but whether that will result in a sharper razor is debatable.

Get yourself a nice kangaroo leather strop; nothing better.

So the strops job is to align the edge, correct? Why would one leather be better than another at Performing this specific task?

I don’t really know the answer. I know what I’ve been told by people I trust that have been at this longer than myself, but that’s about it. Curious to hear more opinions.

So the strops job is to align the edge, correct? Why would one leather be better than another at Performing this specific task?

I don’t really know the answer. I know what I’ve been told by people I trust that have been at this longer than myself, but that’s about it. Curious to hear more opinions.

I think there might be subtle differences from one hide to another. I have an old vintage Koken Bros strop (shell cordovan) that I'd swear is a superior performer to other strops I've got. I wonder if the tanning process, the quality of the hide to begin with, and the workmanship would make a difference ? 

I also have a Certifyd Red Imp shell cordovan that was their top of the line according to their catalog. Great results with it too. My Tony Miller is the workhorse though. Mainly because I nicked it up so I don't worry about hurting it worse. 

Moot point now because I rarely ever straight shave anymore.

I have a straight in the post and no strop so, of course Im the best person to comment

While all leather is meant to align the edge and remove burrs and whatnot, I think it is eventually
the draw of the strop that makes one strop more appealing than the other. Another one of those
impossible situations where you have to try a few leathers to see what you prefer. 

From what I follow, latigo has a slow draw and cordovan a very quick, slick draw where the blade 
seems to almost magnetically adhere to the leather. I've heard that steerhide sits somewhere in the
middle....so that might be the way I'm going.

I have a straight in the post and no strop so, of course Im the best person to comment

While all leather is meant to align the edge and remove burrs and whatnot, I think it is eventually
the draw of the strop that makes one strop more appealing than the other. Another one of those
impossible situations where you have to try a few leathers to see what you prefer. 

From what I follow, latigo has a slow draw and cordovan a very quick, slick draw where the blade 
seems to almost magnetically adhere to the leather. I've heard that steerhide sits somewhere in the
middle....so that might be the way I'm going.

Indeed my friend! There are other difference but I wonder if the make a feel-able difference. Things like flexibility, porousness, among other can have a determinate factor but for my kangaroo is about the durability vs weight. More durable and lighter weight most of the time. I am more in the I prefer lighter weight category. At the end of the day however it is whatever works best for you as it is about feel and technique with stroping

daym... thats a nice strop. i might have to get one of these once i become a pro stropper. right now i got a small deer strop that i already nicked. my next strop though gonna be a from scrupleworks. a gentlemen from one of the Nordic countries makes them.