Chris, Thanks so much for your information. For a beginning strop maker, this has been invaluable. The leather my friend sent me (he's not very good at guessing measurements apparently!) only yielded a piece that was 3x11 (perfect for my bench strop!) and another that's 1.75 x 18, after it's been cut evenly and squared. So, this will still be good practice for me, and I could end up with a nice travel or starter strop, I suppose.

Tony, the cosmetically challenged horse butt isn't for sale is it? PM me if you like!

Thanks again,

Ben