Thread: Antique shop strop find

I picked this strop up unused for $40.00,it has 2 peices, is one side canvas,they both seem to be leather 1 side is darker than the other.It says craftsman geniune imported scotch tanned shell horse hide prime selection hand finishrd on 1 side. sorry for the stupid questions i newb and have been using news paper up untill now,also can i just use it as is or do i have to buy some type of strop dressing that i have read about in some of the posts.It is in such good condition i kind of hate to use it,apreciate anyinfo thx.

Shell is the bee's knees for strop leather.

I just love the feel of shell, and no you probably don't need to do anything to it unless its crackingly stiff. Rub it a bit, letting your hand slide up and down the smooth skin.

Subsequently you can also do this to your strop, just make sure you have clean hands.

Ps. just saw the razor you got the same place. You've done quite nice for a day of shopping =)

Thanks chady for the tip ,i really apreciate it.I have nothing to compare it to since this is the first strop i have purchased,but it does not seem to be that dry.I will rub my hands on it for a 2 or 3 days before i use it as u sugested .

Thx Kees i am not to shure what that means, but i guess u are saying it is of high quality.thx

You are a lucky dog. That is one nice classic strop. Hope your newspaper practice has you prepared I'd hate to nick a mint antique like that.

The strop seems to be leather on both pieces ,all the others that i have seen have 1 peice that is canvas.On this 1 1 piece says sharpening this side the other says finish this side .Is the side that says sharpening side equivalent to the canvas on another strop.

Wheres our strop expert? It could be equal to the linen but more likely it is pasted or awaiting paste. I would use the finish side daily and the sharpening side only when your edge begins to dull alittle bit, this should refresh the edge bringing it back to sharp for a while.

Originally Posted by Chady

I just love the feel of shell, and no you probably don't need to do anything to it unless its crackingly stiff. Rub it a bit, letting your hand slide up and down the smooth skin.

Subsequently you can also do this to your strop, just make sure you have clean hands.

Ps. just saw the razor you got the same place. You've done quite nice for a day of shopping =)

Hahahahahahahaha

Course you got to use it..
It looks WONDERFUL!!!

All my antique places have junk and no wetshaving stuff...
Sigh