[VintageBlades]

Well, it’s now official. Vintage Blades is very pleased to announce that we are a newly authorized dealer of the highly regarded strops of The Heirloom Razor Strop Company. These strops are hand crafted right here in Maryland by Tony Miller. Tony has built a solid reputation within the straight razor community for both designing and manufacturing quality products that meet the demanding requirements of today's straight razor user. We hope to be able to add more of his products in the months ahead.

[SIB]

I always said that Jim at vintagebladesllc.com offers the best service,atention to detail and willingness to satisfy a customer, now on top of that you are offering the only good product out there that you were missing on your catalog.
I think that right now...more than ever...you are the perfect store for shaving goods.
I encourage everybody that hasnt used his services to do so...
Good for you Jim!!!!!
Sergio.

[ZiggyDeath]

Does this mean he will no longer be selling directly? Or does this mean you'll simply be carrying a much wider selection?

[Tony Miller]

Ziggy,
This means that I will be relying on Jim and my other dealers more and more to present certain products. The demand for my products has grown to where I cannot increase production doing this myself, nor can I hand off manufacturing to others. Every hide must be hand cut by me and each strop body must be cut and finished by me as well to insure quality. No employee, no matter how good will put the same care into these as I will. I do have help with some assembly and with the woodwork now but the leather work must be done by me....that is why you buy my products.

I can spend my week filling, packing and shipping orders OR in manufacturing strops and I much prefer working with leather over cardboard boxes

My dealers will have a wider assortment of latigo strops than before but for now I will retain all of the horsehide strops (yes, they will be available soon) and my 4 sided paddles. I will also still sell latigo but on a more limited basis.

This should allow for easier availability of my products while allowing me a better balance between my busines and personal lives. I have a wife and daughter and a full time career too other than my leather work so need to find a happy medium.

Thanks,
Tony

[norman931]

Best of luck with this endeavor, Tony and Jim!

[VintageBlades]

Couldn't have said it better myself Tony.

[Padron]

Excellent , Tony will Jim also be carrying your practice strops as an option to add on to the premiums?

I have a friend that needs a strop, but he also wanted a practice strop and I don't see that being offered at Jim's site..

Thanks!

[Tony Miller]

Neill,
The practice strops (and Apprentice/Starters) don't equate well with the wholesale/retail thing. At $6.50 they are a break even proposition...leather cost, cutting cost, punch the hole, round the edges, break it in a little, thong and bead cost and labor, etc..... I don't always have them available myself due to leather supply (and time supply).

Not really sure of a solution on this one that would work for my dealers.

Of course I could try and teach Jim how to make these....he just loafs around all day anyway


Tony

[Padron]

Thanks Tony,

I will have him wait for your site to have them in stock...I hate for him to get a nice new strop and nick it up.

Now, if you can talk Jim into making some, that would be sweet too

Thanks,
Neale

[Cutthroat_trout]

Does the practice hone actually hone or just a teaser ? I have been going back and forth regarding which to buy and would prefer to get the nicer Artisan with practice rather than Apprentice. But being new to straight, I dont want to ruin a beautiful strop.

[ewanhuzarmie]

The practice strop is a nice piece of leather. I use mine all the time. It burnishes the edge nicely and you don't have to worry about turning your nice artisian into the victim in a horror movie. Once you're sure that you're comfortable, you can move on to the next strep with the artisian and keep the practice strop as a travel strop.

[Padron]

Originally Posted by Cutthroat_trout

Does the practice hone actually hone or just a teaser ? I have been going back and forth regarding which to buy and would prefer to get the nicer Artisan with practice rather than Apprentice. But being new to straight, I dont want to ruin a beautiful strop.

Yes Lee,

Get the Artisan with the practice strop, they are both great and you will use the practice strop until you have your technique down and then move onto the Artisan...

Tony's strops are 1st class

Neale

[Tony Miller]

Originally Posted by Cutthroat_trout

Does the practice hone actually hone or just a teaser ?

Nope, just a teaser as I enjoy working for free to make them

Not pretty but they do the job which is stropping AND teaching.

Tony

[Cutthroat_trout]

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

Nope, just a teaser as I enjoy working for free to make them

Tony

Nice to know - Making money is sooo overrated !

[Cutthroat_trout]

Originally Posted by Padron

Yes Lee,

Get the Artisan with the practice strop, they are both great and you will use the practice strop until you have your technique down and then move onto the Artisan...

Tony's strops are 1st class

Neale

Just submitted order for one Artisan w/practice strop !

Neale, I cannot thank you enough for finding more ways for me to depart with my money

[Padron]

Originally Posted by Cutthroat_trout

Just submitted order for one Artisan w/practice strop !

Neale, I cannot thank you enough for finding more ways for me to depart with my money

Hehehe,

Sorry Lee at least your getting some top notch gear, I think you'll be very happy

Congrats!

Neale

[VintageBlades]

Yeah Neale, thanks for hijacking MY thread. Now Let me see if I can change the title to "Tony Miller's Strops at Vintage Blades - But not the Stinking Practice Strops".