As some of you know, I really love anything "down under." Ever since we came back from a long trip to Australia and New Zealand last summer, all we want to do is go back. So when I saw this "Kangaroo" Shell strop on ebay, I put a pretty low snipe on it really as a lark, just to have as a conversation piece if maybe I won it. Who knew, maybe it was some kind of actual kangaroo hide (like the one under it in the pic)?
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So when I won it for less than 30 bucks, I was pleasantly surprised to receive a much higher quality strop than the lousy pics suggested. I'm pretty certain it's just horse-hide shell, but it is by far the thickest, softest and most supple vintage shell I own; strange, but it almost feels padded from within, and is just a silken dream to strop on. In fact, my stropping arm is sore from re-stropping all my razors on it all weekend lol (yeah, I'm a stropoholic). As received, it was kind of messy and mildewed, and the brass was pretty corroded. I cleaned it up with saddle soap, rubbed in some neatsfoot from the back, and removed as much tarnish as I could. Here it is:
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Gra'Lin Cutler 83: Columbia, PA, it says on the bottom tab:
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"Kangaroo Shell" logo under the brass hardware:
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Anyway, this in now by far my favorite strop. So no hard feelings from my marsupial friends, I hope (though I did have some on a skewer in Sydney-it was delicious!).
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Thanks for looking! Aaron/SHD
