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@TheFiveO, it sounds like your leather might be too far gone. Pictures would help, but if parts of the surface are flaking off, you probably won't ever get an even, smooth surface to strop on.

I have been doing leather work for a while, and dealing with old saddles and tack since I was a kid. I would suggest avoiding saddle soap, until you clean it with a damp (but not dripping) rag...

I would put a light coat on the back, and let it soak overnight. Even glazed leather will absorb oil. The fibers in leather are like little hollow straws. They will wick it from the surface to the...

Also, Shell leather is made by sanding the grain surface (skin) of the leather from the cheeks of the backside of a horse. The fibers just below the grain surface are very dense, and go in all...

Looks like a good find. I would start with using a damp but not wet cloth to try and clean the leather off. It should get darker as it absorbs a bit of water. Once you have both sides cleaned...