Thread: What’s the best leather for a razor strop?

Horse, cow, buffalo, and etc.

Originally Posted by bigman

Horse, cow, buffalo, and etc.

I would take it that you didin't get enough input from this thread of yours:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...ml#post1772587

No worries, that happens. As was suggested in your previous your thread SRD is a great place to purchase a strop and they have many choices including a 'beginners' level strop which won't set you back too much.

The really nice thing about SRD strops is that both the leather and 'cloth' sides can be replaced. So if you cut the hell out of your beginner's leather strop you can choose to either stay with that leather or try a different one and hopefully not cut the hell out of that one.

I've used the English Bridle, the Roo (Kangaroo) and the Premium #1.

I hope this is of some help.

There are many different leathers for razor strops. It really depends on what each person likes. Now you could go broke buying all the different brands and types but for me I like feel of the English bridle strops. I really don't know but I believe it's cow hide. Then again I never ask just ordered it and liked it. I've had several of the older barbers strops one was made of Russian Boar. I really liked it but I ruined it with neats foot oil. I have an older Cmon and have no idea what it's made of . The point to all this typing is it's really a matter of what you like. If you ask 10 different people you could very easily get that many different answers.

I had a spree of strop acquisition once upon at time and I have quite a few. The two sons took their favourites and we all have different strops now. I like a somewhat fast strop with a light draw. One of my favourites is a horse belly strop by DryGulch. I do not like zippy second components.

I thought I might tell what happened to the Russian Boar strop I liked so much. I thought if a little neats foot oil was good then more would be better. I rubbed too much into the strop and it dissolved into nothing. When I saw what I had done I laughed so much at myself for being so wrong. I since learned from a friend to put just a drop or two on the hand and rub my hands together to evenly distribute the oil and then lightly rub the strop. Anyway as cudarunner has stated SRD is where I go the strop I use now and sooner or later I will order a replacement leather for it and start over again.

I find that i like the English Bridle and Buffalo the best. Now different makes might not feel the same, but going with SRD these are my picks. Good luck.

Correction, the EB isnt an SRD strop. Still one of my fav's.

“There can be only one” ——>SHELL (IMO of course)

It's not about the critter it comes from it about the quality of the individual piece of leather. If it's well finished and smooth and free of blemishes it will do it's job.

With the type of leather it's more about what you prefer as to size and amount of draw and the luxury factor.

My favorites are Boar, Roo, and Horsehide.

Originally Posted by Steel

“There can be only one” ——>SHELL (IMO of course)

This all day long; there's a reason most of the great classic strops were made of horse butt shell.