Thread: vintage strop

Over the weekend, I found a vintage strop. I bought it to use up at my cabin (I have a TM strop at home). If I remember the name right it was a Wm Marvy strop made of Russian leather and linen. It had a "diamond" back with a crosshatched cut pattern. it seems a quality strop. It was overly smooth and dry. I did a couple of applications on Neetsfoot oil. It seemed to drink that right up. The draw improved, but it seems like I need to do more. it measured 24x2 and 1/2.

1 - is this a quality strop?

2 - what would the next step be?

Did you try the shave after the strop? Do that and then decide. If the draw is good and the shave likewise, why fix it?

The Wm Marvy Co. is the last manufacturer of barber poles in the US and is still in business in St. Paul, MN. The company still sells some shaving stuff, but I don't believe it now sells either razors or strops. You could gently clamp the strop to a flat surface and rub something smooth and hard like a drinking glass or beer bottle on the surface, but if it already is smooth and you've treated it with neatsfoot oil (not compound) or some strop dressing, it's probably just fine the way it is.

I have a vintage Marvy Co. horsehide strop and it works just fine.