Quote Originally Posted by PuFFaH View Post
TBH Horsehide isn't the best, Cordovan Shell/Russian shell are the best. That is of course in my humble opinion.

PuFF
I'd have to agree. Different yes, better not always. Whatever works for one is the "best". Each has a different feel. Some love a higher draw, others prefer a smooth, light draw strop.

The Russian Shell statement though brings up a more modern question. What does that mean today. Leathers billed as Russian had several traits....most relating to a regular feeling strop "plus". Technically it was suposed to mean a special tanning process with particular barks that also happened to give it a red appearance. So today we have red commercially made "Russian" strops that are red but are they tanned the same way. Some Russian strops were also textured and compressed to make them have a more firm temper. Some commercial "Russian" strops today are also textured in someway and may also be red in color too. Most early Russian strops were horsehide but even there it varies, I had one in my collection with lettering describing the special 6 or 9 month tanning process and it was textured. The writing in Cyrillic also clearly stated calfhide, not horsehide.

Today we have lots of variations on the old themes but all are compromises really and from owning many, all seem to do a fine job still.

Tony