Thread: "Kangaroo" Shell

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)?

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:


Gra'Lin Cutler 83: Columbia, PA, it says on the bottom tab:

"Kangaroo Shell" logo under the brass hardware:

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!).

Thanks for looking! Aaron/SHD

Hopefully, it will be a wonderful strop for your razor needs. If it is thick, it is unlikely to be Kangaroo hide unless several layers of hide have been bonded together. Roo hide is thin, but quite strong. Unfortunately, since it is thin, wider Roo strops (3") may have difficulty with cupping. Since your strop is thick, that should not be an issue.

nice find Aaron! Does it have a secondary linen strop with it?

Originally Posted by tintin

nice find Aaron! Does it have a secondary linen strop with it?

Thanks Vern-No linen secondary; it's just the one strop. The back side is pretty nice, too, though-finished almost like a very fine suede.

Sweet grab, Aaron. I have a SRD Roo strop, and love it.
Its my preferred finishing strop, and favorite for smiling blades.

Very thin, soft, and flexible. You can even roll it up and pack it for travel. I can almost feel that velvety draw yours probably has. Mmmmm

Originally Posted by outback

Sweet grab, Aaron. I have a SRD Roo strop, and love it.
Its my preferred finishing strop, and favorite for smiling blades.

Very thin, soft, and flexible. You can even roll it up and pack it for travel. I can almost feel that velvety draw yours probably has. Mmmmm

Yeah, Mike-I have stropped on the SRD Roo at a meetup, and I would love to get an actual one-nothing else quite like it. This is much thicker and more substantial than Roo; just a cut above my other vintage shells. We're planning to go back in the summer of '20; maybe I can bring back an actual roo strop or leather for making one.

Dude, I ate some reindeer in Finland one year and well, Santa has never returned! Just saying.

Lol. Nice score!