Help needed with this "Travel Strop"

Hi to All!

I found this "Travel Strop" (I'm not sure if it's for travel, but from the size of it i think so) on a local Internet market, and need some help.
So: on one side it's leather good quality, and in good condition (unfortunately i could not figure out what kind of leather it is, because the surface is like rubber or something similar - any idea appreciated):shrug:
But i have the real "problem" with the other side - it seems that the wood have some longitudinal "grains", or "waves" (I don't know the proper word for it - shame on me:thinking:) an kinda painted with some black "paint".

Does anyone seen something like this before? Any idea?

i think the wood side was used for sharpening as well, i was given a cedar shim to use as a sharpener, and it too is stained black from use
not sure though

Thanks!
I'm not sure it is the same situation, because it is not like metal on it, more like some kind of coating, and it is in a pretty good shape too.

Could it be some kind of glue to attach a (now missing) bit of leather?

u can see by my fingers the original color, and how the used part is turning black, mines not metalliic or anyhinghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2051/...d1011997_o.jpg
mdunn could be on to somthing there as well, maybe adhesive from another material coming off, but i would expect to see some remnants of whatever would be missing.
he couldve used some kind of paste or coating to get the right draw he liked, who knows