Reviews and Ratings for Illinois Razor Strop 2.5" x 23" Imperial Russia with Handle - IRS827

Illinois Razor Strop 2.5" x 23" Imperial Russia with Handlerated 4.429 stars out of 5 (21 reviews)
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Illinois Razor Strop 2.5 inch x 23 inch Imperial Russia with Handle

 

Price: $45.95

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Illinois Razor Strop 2.5" x 23" Imperial Russia with Handle
rated 5 stars out of 5
Luis A
east haven ,CT
Nov 18, 2010
Pros: Overall Quality, Durability
Cons: None

great strop!

very well made, very good leather this strop will last a very long time if properly maintained. puts the finishing touch on my razor.
Illinois Razor Strop 2.5" x 23" Imperial Russia with Handle
rated 5 stars out of 5
Capewaterrat
New England
Jun 01, 2010
Pros: Overall Quality
Cons: None

Good classic strop

Works well with the Dovos - see my Dovo razor review for more -
Illinois Razor Strop 2.5" x 23" Imperial Russia with Handle
rated 5 stars out of 5
Blade 14
Atlanta, GA
Dec 27, 2012
Pros: Overall Quality, Durability
Cons: None

Mandatory sharpening equipment

Bought this years ago to use with my straight razor. Ended up using it almost every day for all of my non-serrated knives.
Illinois Razor Strop 2.5" x 23" Imperial Russia with Handle
rated 5 stars out of 5
T A W
Toledo, Ohio
Oct 22, 2012
Pros: Overall Quality
Cons: None

Razor Strop

Used the strop the day I recieved it. It did a great job on my razor that, after use, gave a close, clean shave.
Illinois Razor Strop 2.5" x 23" Imperial Russia with Handle
rated 5 stars out of 5
Luis F Carrillo
Colombia S. America
Jul 12, 2011
Pros: Overall Quality, Durability
Cons: None
Back in 1966 when I had just started shaving with a straight razor, I bought one of your strops. I have used it for the last 45 years and it still looks great and works fine. Thank you for your sound craftmanship and congratulations. Keep it up!
Illinois Razor Strop 2.5" x 23" Imperial Russia with Handle
rated 5 stars out of 5
Captainbismo
Buffalo, NY
Oct 04, 2010
Pros: Overall Quality, Durability
Cons: None

Sweet sound and excellent stropping

I love the sound my razor(s) make on this nifty strop.
Illinois Razor Strop 2.5" x 23" Imperial Russia with Handle
rated 5 stars out of 5
Richard E
Tulsa, Ok.
Nov 05, 2015
Pros: Overall Quality, Durability
Cons: None

completely satisfied!

This product is utilized to maintain a collection of quality knives and is perfect for the job. As always Knife Center was as expedient as possible in getting the product to me!
Illinois Razor Strop 2.5" x 23" Imperial Russia with Handle
rated 5 stars out of 5
Chuck F
Riverside, CA
Sep 20, 2012
Pros: Overall Quality
Cons: None

Illinois Razor Strop

Excelant strop
Illinois Razor Strop 2.5" x 23" Imperial Russia with Handle
rated 5 stars out of 5
Newby
Florida
Jan 04, 2011
Pros: Overall Quality
Cons: None

Great Product

I just started straight razor shaving. I was recommended this strop as a great starter. Great advice as this strop does it's job.
Illinois Razor Strop 2.5" x 23" Imperial Russia with Handle
rated 5 stars out of 5
Gerry
Norwood, MA
Oct 05, 2009
Pros: Overall Quality, Durability
Cons: None

I'm impressed!

I bought this Illinois Razor Strop to replace my Russian strop. The rippled surface on both sides of this strop create a superior sharpness to my blade compared to the Russian's result. This is a great strop.
Illinois Razor Strop 2.5" x 23" Imperial Russia with Handle
rated 5 stars out of 5
Pete
Westminster, CO
Apr 20, 2010
Pros: Overall Quality, Durability
Cons: None

Great Strop

This was the best price that I found on a high quality, Russian leather strop. I am very pleased with the feel, functionality, and handsome finish of the Illinois strop. This is two strops, one Russian Leather, one Barber's linen. Very solid and easy to use, just hang & go. The second strop falls away and doesn't interfere in daily use. Both are wide enough to fit the entire blade on every pass and long enough for full, even passes. Quality stitching, mounting, and components. Strops are made with good weight leather or Linen so that they hold taut and secure in daily stroping. A very masculine product. "Handles" look like flat paddles of leather, but are very comfortable and substantial in the hand. Looks very professional and at home in a gent's bathroom. I did buy and treat both initially with Fromm leather strop paste & dovo linen paste. The occasional use of the linen stope makes a distint impression on your shave. Will use this as my main strop and probably purchase another Illinois for use with sharpening paste.
Illinois Razor Strop 2.5" x 23" Imperial Russia with Handle
rated 5 stars out of 5
Wally S
Westbrook, Maine
Sep 20, 2010
Pros: Overall Quality
Cons: None

An Excellent Product and Prompt Delivery

I am very pleased with my new razor strop. I shopped them quite thoroughly and will tell you that I feel I received the best value from KnifeCenter. And the product arrived very promptly from UPS, about 3 days.
Illinois Razor Strop 2.5" x 23" Imperial Russia with Handle
rated 5 stars out of 5
Ed
Capelle a/d IJssel, The Netherlands
Feb 22, 2010
Pros: Overall Quality
Cons: None

Great strop!!

Great quality strop. Wide enough to strop in a straight line. Use the canvas side before using the leather side for polishing your straight razor. Product delivered well on time!
Illinois Razor Strop 2.5" x 23" Imperial Russia with Handle
rated 5 stars out of 5
Юрий
Ukraine
Mar 30, 2012
Pros: Overall Quality
Cons: Overall Quality

Illinois Razor Strop 2.5" x 23" Imperial Russia with Handle

I use constantly enjoy!
Illinois Razor Strop 2.5" x 23" Imperial Russia with Handle
rated 4 stars out of 5
Charles
Lima Ohio
Nov 15, 2013
Pros: Overall Quality
Cons: None

good for the money

I recently purchased this strop to sharpen some razors that I recent found that havent been used in probably 25 to 30 years and this strop sharpened them right up no problems
Illinois Razor Strop 2.5" x 23" Imperial Russia with Handle
rated 4 stars out of 5
Goober
Lubbock, Texas
Dec 03, 2010
Pros: Overall Quality
Cons: None

suprised that this level of quilaty still existed

really puts that final touch on a quality razor. Size is adequate to strop a razor correctly without "feeling cramped". First strop I've had with handles, they are great. The little snap on the end opposite the handles could have been a little bigger-heavier. Does what it was intended for quite well.Great customer service, and fast shipping.
Illinois Razor Strop 2.5" x 23" Imperial Russia with Handle
rated 4 stars out of 5
Robin
Gainesville, VA
Oct 24, 2009
Pros: Overall Quality
Cons: None

Good solid value

The Illinois strops offer good solid value. This is the second Illinois strop I have purchased. The first one is still fine. Got this one to try the russian finish leather.
Illinois Razor Strop 2.5" x 23" Imperial Russia with Handle
rated 4 stars out of 5
Splittinhairs
San Jose, CA
Sep 16, 2010
Pros: None
Cons: None

Want Sharp? - Strop

I'm new to stropping so this is more a plug for stropping in general. I use this for taking my thinner blade knives to the next level and have to say i'm impressed. Read plenty about stropping for razors but was always skeptical of how effective it really was for knives -- Now i know -- its very effective. The overall quality of this strop is good and I like that the leather and canvas "belts" are separate. Attached it about waist level with a bit of strop paste and it does a phenomenal job of putting the finishing touches on my sharp edges. Handles are not super thick leather or padded but do an excellent job of giving you something to hold on to and are well reinforced. Clip is a simple hook but swivels to allow easy use as well. Overall - perfoms great and good value.
Illinois Razor Strop 2.5" x 23" Imperial Russia with Handle
rated 3 stars out of 5
Tracks
Spring Texas
Dec 27, 2010
Pros: Durability
Cons: Overall Quality
The product is fine---quality a little lower than expected but that is all---works great--good strop
Illinois Razor Strop 2.5" x 23" Imperial Russia with Handle
rated 2 stars out of 5
Andrew
Massachussetts
Jul 08, 2016
Pros: None
Cons: Durability

Spend more on a better product.

I usually don't complain, and I wrote a glowing review on this site for the Boker straight razor which I purchased with this strop... but this strop is quite dissapointing. Compared to my english bridle strop from Portland Razor Company, this one seemed cheaply made right off the bat. The leather was badly dried out when it arrived, and despite careful pre-conditioning, it began to crack and fray with gentle stropping (within the first two weeks!) It now has pills and strings coming off it and is nowhere near being smooth (has the consistency of corkwood after a few months. Please note I am experienced using these and have not nicked or cut it once, I have kept other strops in fine condition for many years. I understand that russian leather is morre supple and not supposed to be as durable as English Bridle, but this is not normal. Also, the handle is glued to the leather (no hardware). In the heat and under tension from stropping, the handle slowly pulls away from the leather. Do yourself a favor and shell out twice as much for a GOOD strop, it will last you 10x as long... so will cost 5x less (long term). Heck, my other stop might outlive me, this one won't outlast the socks I am wearing!
Illinois Razor Strop 2.5" x 23" Imperial Russia with Handle
rated 2 stars out of 5
Andy
CA
Nov 02, 2011
Pros: None
Cons: Overall Quality

not handcrafted

The leather strop does not appear to be hancrafted due to the mechanically ribbed backside. The problem is when you strop your razor you feel the ribs through the blade. I would prefer a smooth leather strop to get the best finish to the blade.