[Maximilian]

What can I say that most people already don't know. Tony Miller's strops are known all over the shaving community. Especially the straight shavers.

Tony offers several choices of leather. Red latigo, buffed and smooth horsehide. Since I already own the original strop with the red latigo and linen it was time to feed the addiction. I've always wanted a horsehide so the choice was made pretty fast. I asked Tony about the possibility for a buffed/smooth horsehide combo since his offering only applied for a horsehide (smooth or buffed)/linen, cotton or red latigo.

The strop arrived nicely and loosely rolled in secure white shipping box with USPS priority. 2 days from the East to the West side of the country. Don't we love fast shipping.
The strop is just beautiful. It radiates quality, sturdiness and style.
The buffed horsehide has a raised nap and feels a bit like suede. When rubbing your fingers over the strop you can feel the raised nap ever so slightly. It has a very good draw. The draw is comparable to the red latigo but still different. I prefer the draw and feeling of the buffed horsehide, no doubt. The smooth horsehide, well it's smooth as can be. There's basically no draw. I use it as my finishing strop. First I strop the buffed and finally I strop over the smooth. Some users might use the buffed or smooth depending if they are using a heavier, lighter, wedge or hollow razor to strop.

The buffed horsehide is easily maintainable with a suede brush. Don't use any conditioner or oil. It will glaze and flatten the nap. Just rub the buffed horsehide with the brush to raise and clean the surface if needed.

The smooth side can be used with conditioner or neat foot's oil but less is better and I personally only use my hands. Been doing the same with the red latigo. I never had to use any oil or conditioner yet. The overall finishing of the strop has nothing to complain about.

If I had to buy another strop from Tony I would definitely get the buffed horsehide with your choice of linen/cotton or smooth horsehide. The buffed and red latigo are comparable in draw and purpose. That's why it would be kind of silly to go for a buffed horsehide/red latigo strop.
Your best option would be to opt for a dual horsehide strop and add the red latigo practice strop. That way you have the best of all. I don't use the linen very much. This makes it a personal choice off course. I'm more sold for the buffed horsehide compared to the red latigo but either one would be an excellent choice. It mostly depends how far your budget reaches as the horsehide is more expensive.

If you're looking for a quality strop made out of the best leather man can buy for a strop I would definitely recommend looking into the horsehide combo or at least the buffed horsehide if your looking solely for a good draw.

Fit & Finish: 10
Amount of Draw: 9
Thickness of Leather: 10
Efficacy: 10
Quality: 10
Price: 9

[thebigspendur]

I don't think you need to do much convincing to us here about the quality of Tony's strops. My only question about the buffed horse is over time won't the napp get polished out? or is it really that rough so that will never happen. The other thing is if you can't treat the strop with any oil or conditioner what happens over time especially for those of us who live in 0 humidity environments. I have Tony's smooth horse and I really need to condition it a couple times a year.

[Maximilian]

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

My only question about the buffed horse is over time won't the napp get polished out? or is it really that rough so that will never happen.

Time will tell I guess but like I said. Use the suede brush to revive the nap. My personal favor goes for the horsehide. I can't judge or tell you what to favor. And as to convincing. There's lots of newbies or newcomers to SRP that have never heard of Tony Miller and I'm not trying to convince anyone. Just stating the facts and my experience.

[Tony Miller]

I think the buffed finish can be renewed fairly easily down the road, just as when made new. Most Dovo and Jemico strops have a similar treatment and do hold up over time. It may be possible to apply Neat's Foot Oil from the back to keep the body of the strop supply without directly affecting the front surface.

I'll try testing one treated on the front with Neat's Foot Oil and see if it lays down over a few months...weeks?....days?

When in doubt the latigo is likely more resistant in zero humidity areas.

Tony

[RetroGrouch]

Thanks for the review, Max. There's a TM rough horseshide/cotton strop on its way to me right now, so your timing is excellent.

I'm in Canada, so my strop is no doubt sitting in customs for a few days. Frustrating.

[PuFFaH]

I have buffed one of TM's horse hide strop myself. When I dressed the strop with a glycerin based saddle soap, the nap was partially lost but the effect was to leave the surface much like the old time Russian strops.
This is much the same as Latigo that has been well pumiced and soaped, i.e. textured but not rough with good draw and with the ability to bring and edge on very quickly or regain a failing edge.

PuFF

[Tony Miller]

Puff,
I know you have a rather unique method of preparing your strops. it might make a nice post in the strops section sometime for those wanting to achieve the ultimate surface.

Tony

[RetroGrouch]

Mine arrived today. The workmanship is first rate. Even the practice strop looks really nice. (I was kind of expecting a scrap of leather, but it's a well-finished strop!)

Can't wait to give it a workout. Thanks, Tony!

Michael

[jwoods]

Very well done. Your review of this product no doubt answered some of my strop questions, As what to use 1st then what to finish with. I give this review a 10 out of 10 As far as i can determine Tonys only real competition would be keith at handamerican i feel SAD coming on hope my wife tolerates this bout of acquisition disorder

[Tennessee Dave]

Jeez!! I want one real bad. Tony....are you back from vacation yet? Hurry up!

[Maximilian]

Just wanted to give an update on TM's strop. I've now been using this strop intensively for the past 4 months. Let me first start by saying I live in Vegas which is one of the lowest humidity and hot climate cities of the US. The strop is hanging in my bathroom against the wall. In those 4 months I never really had to use any conditioner or neatsfoot oil. I only rub the smooth horsehide with my hands once in a while. As to the suede nap side. I just used a suede brush every so often and a few swipes with clean washed hands. The strop still performs exactly the same as the day I bought it and it's been a joy to use.

[Lt.Arclight]

Great review. I have one of Tony's Latigo strops and it had proven to be of the highest quality. I didn't THINK I needed another strop....

[Quick]

I'm a newbie. I need a strop (razors are on the way -- Bergischer Lowe and a Micarta). I can't think of any logic to buy a "starter" strop and then a higher quality one later other than to reduce your investment if you decide straight razor shaving is not for you. In my case I've been using a straight razor for many years that took cartridge blades. Just never really realized conventional straight razors were available as an option (yea, odd. It's in the newbie section). So I'm in. I'll be ordering a strop tonight.

Tony has the 3" horsehide with an option to replace the smooth cotton with the red latigo. Am I correct in thinking this to be the perfect combination? Red latigo first then finish with the horsehide?

(why would I want a practice strop? ...I don't have a practice razor)

[Maximilian]

Quick,

unless you have been stropping for a while and have some kind of stropping experience I would suggest for you to buy TM's apprentice strop or at least add the practice strop option to the more expensive horsehide strop combo. The reason is very simple. You will nick, cut or destroy your brand new expensive strop if you have no prior stropping experience. As much as you think the opposite it will happen.
As to the Red Latigo. Yes, I would personally choose the Red Latigo instead of the smooth cotton together with the smooth Horsehide. That way you have a heavier draw of the Red Latigo and the super smooth Horsehide draw. Both leathers will give you all the stropping joy you need but add the practice strop option. It's worth the extra $7.50. Again, I don't know what your experience is with stropping in general.

[Quick]

Thanks! (practice strop option added).
[edit] went back and added the apprentice strop too... got to have something to travel with right?

[mbhodges]

I think I may have to pick up one of these horsehide combos. They are spoke of so highly. I think that it might need to be added to the collection........