Thread: Tony's horsehide strops

I have one also and think they are great but you realize the shaving manuals advise not using horsehide for the longterm because they become very slick and polished and are not good for the blade. I got that from the manual someone here recently posted.

The Practice and Science of Standard Barbering by S.C. Thorpe states that an ordinary medium grade horsehide strop is not recommended for barber use as it won't impart the proper edge but is suitable for private use but a high quality horsehide strop taken from the rump area of the horse is amongst the best possible strops will remain smooth and requires very little, if any, breaking in.

Horse sides tend to be much thinner leather than I would use for a strop, usually 3 to 4 oz. unless you can get the tannery do do a special run. Much of it goes to the garment industry.

I use 100% Horse Butts (rumps/hips), not sides, and not "horse fronts" as they are commonly called. Cordovan, also used for strops years ago, usually comes directly from the horses butt cheeks and yields two medium sized, 12" x 17" ovals per beast at a huge price. Butts and Rumps are adjacent to these high dollar horse real estate areas <g>.

Tony

So basically, you're telling me that my strop is a horse's ....

Josh

Originally Posted by JoshEarl

So basically, you're telling me that my strop is a horse's ....

Josh

Awesome I never knew that..
now I know... and knowing's half the battle. G.I JOE!

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

Cordovan, also used for strops years ago, usually comes directly from the horses butt cheeks and yields two medium sized, 12" x 17" ovals per beast at a huge price.

I have Allen Edmonds shoes with cordovan uppers. It's amazing leather that is incredibly resistant to scratches and wrinkles. I'm on the second soles, but the uppers still look like new!

Originally Posted by JoshEarl

So basically, you're telling me that my strop is a horse's ....

Josh

Better he say that about the strop and not the stropper lol

Originally Posted by JoshEarl

So basically, you're telling me that my strop is a horse's ....

Josh

That's how you get your razor sharp enough for a PBS shave (pony's butt smooth)!

Originally Posted by Doc4

That's how you get your razor sharp enough for a PBS shave (pony's butt smooth)!

very nice.

Originally Posted by syslight

Overall the hook, properly secued is the best, but good luck finding a strop hook in a hotel bathroom.

Cheap strop hooks for hotels can be found here. Just attach to the door knob...and then remember to remove the strop before leaving!

RT