Sorry I'm Closed
I Will Be Closed The Next Week Or Two Due To Family Health Issues
June 27, 2009: Due to my Father-in-Laws declining health I will be spending most of my time with family issues for a while instead of in the workshop. I am not sure yet at what point I will be open again. This is only a part time activity for me and must take a back seat to more important aspects in my life. Thank you for your understanding.
I wanted to thank everyone on SRP and B&B for the kind messages and prayers. I am grateful to have such good friends to help lift my spirits so I can be strong for my wife Lorrie in these difficult days. I'll keep you posted on when I will be open again. Bless you.
My products will be listed again and e-mail enquiries returned once I am ready to open again.
~ The Heirloom Razor Strop Co. ~
Designer And Maker Of The Original Latigo Strops !
Hand Crafted Strops Directly From The Craftsman
Thanks for looking at my strop products. This is a small, craftsman owned and run part time business and my products are all made or finished here by hand, by me. I'm not a big business with a storefront or staff, and I don't just stock and resell some other makers products, I am the manufacturer and the designer.
All of my strops are designed, cut and finished individually by me. My strop, handle and cap designs, and the use of Latigo leather and modular construction are all my own unique innovations based on my years of experience in leatherworking and have evolved through my hands on testing of many prototypes. These same innovations, patterns and designs, and construction methods, are now standards of manufacture often copied by other makers here and abroad. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and while it is easy for some to just copy my designs and patterns, it surely does not make it that which the original is. When you buy an Heirloom Strop you buy from the designer and the maker.
My Latigo and Horsehide is all cut by hand, by me from the finest hides available. I discard nearly 50% of the material I receive as not being suitable for the strops that will carry my name. Canvas and Linen components are all cut, punched and finished by me as well. The wooden blanks for my paddles and occasionally the leather handles are the only pieces, other than metal hardware, not made by me, but are made to my own unique designs and assembled here by me. This hands on approach is how I insure the quality of my products. I work at whatever pace produces the best product, not the greatest availability. With this approach it may take a little longer to produce my products but I think you will find it worth the wait. If I cannot make a product I am proud of and of my own creation I would rather make nothing at all.
Horsehide or Latigo, Cotton or Linen
I am frequently asked as to which leather or cloth to choose for your new strop. Red Latigo is a material I introduced to strop making 4 years ago and is basically a specially tanned steer hide that is treated with oils and waxes. This imparts a heavier draw, or friction to the leather which makes it what I feel is the best all around material for stropping on. Not all latigo leathers are created equal and there is far more to making a strop than just cutting a strip from a side. Knowing which type of latigo to use, what hides to discard and which areas and orientation to cut each piece from are paramount to crafting a proper strop. I use a proprietary "breaking in" process done on both the raw components and again on the finished strops before shipment.
The Horsehide I use is cut from the butt section of the horse. This is the thickest, strongest part of the skin. Horsehide will have considerably less draw or friction but makes for an excellent finishing strop for use after Red Latigo or for those who just prefer a more traditional material. These strops go through my same extensive break in process. The raw horsehide "butts" have a fairly low yield of first quality leather, hence the higher costs for this product. Coloration will range from a light tan to a variegated wood grain like pattern.
There are a lot of leather choices out there to catch the buyers eye but a strop really only needs one of two things,...a heavy draw or a light draw. These conditions are best covered with just two leather choices. I have found that the best materials, and the ones that have stood up year after year for me, were my original Red Latigo and the Butt Section Horsehide, and I prefer to stand with these time tested, proven materials alone for my products and not to try to woo buyers with some exotic hides that have no effective advantage other than a catchy name.
The actual function of the cloth component, typically called "linen" is the subject of much debate but most feel it is an important step in stropping. Sadly, most strop makers today use the word "Linen" to mean any cloth component, no matter what fiber it is actually made from. There is no "mystery" cloth used on my strops, I call it what it is, Smooth Cotton or Genuine Linen, no surprises, no secrets, no generic terms to make you think you are getting something you are not. Smooth cotton is my daily choice as it has a firm, stiff temper but a fine weave making for a smooth surface for daily stropping or the application of fine abrasives. Genuine Linen, being a less processed fiber and the traditional choce for years, is thought to be more abrasive than cotton and may be the choice for those wanting the ultimate material but I feel it would be a waste to then apply pastes over this material. The linen is more difficult to source and has a high waste factor resulting in a higher price for this material.
Modular Construction Allows For Options
All of my current Artisan strops feature modular construction, another Heirloom Razor Strop Co. innovation that I developed with my first strops 4 years ago. This has several advantages. A user can easily replace a damaged section, leather or cloth, without having to buy a complete new strop and it allows you to swap sections later. Down the road you can add a linen component in place of the cotton you started with or the Latigo can be switched out completely to make a horsehide strop. Just another inovative design that started at the Heirloom Razor Strop Company.
International Customers
I gladly ship anywhere in the world. Priority Mail Insured shipping is $29.75 ($21.00 Canada) for a single strop, $33.00 ($23.00 Canada) for multiple items. Please e-mail me with your order and I will send a Paypal invoice. Please note that various taxes and duties may apply upon delivery and that I must declare an accurate and honest value on all packages.
A Gift For You
If the bible verses posted daily on this site raise your interest a little bit please feel free to accept a complimentary copy of the Gospel of John offered free of charge below. My gift to you.
My products will be listed and e-mails replied to once I am able to open again. Thanks.
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Free Copy, The Gospel Of John
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If you are curious about Christianity or the Scripture posted each day on this storefront I invite you to take a complimentary copy of The Gospel Of John and find out more for yourself. No charge, a gift to you.
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- Price : $0.00
