Cordovan strop

found one for $45. vintage. shell only, normal wear, no nicks, needs cleaning. go for it, or not?

A vintage shell with canvas went in the SRP classifieds for 26.00 a week ago.

Plus, TM has an option for the Red Latigo Heirloom 3" Artisan for Leather only. and it is not too much more than $45. However, his availability has been down. Believe me I have been checking... Your choice.

I went through some strop acquisition disorder for awhile. I have about a dozen vintage strops as well as Hand Amercan, Tony Miller and SRD. The SRD premium 1 is my main strop nowadays with the webbed fabric on the back side. I couldn't say whether the vintage strop would be good for that price without seeing it and feeling it. I wouldn't have a strop without a linen, canvas or webbed fabric on the back side though.

I don't know if it's comparable, but I bought the Kanayama cordovan strop new from Martin at rasurpur.de, and paid a whole lot more than $45.

I'm very happy with the Kanayama cordovan as a "finishing" strop, after linen and latigo. I'm amazed that such a glass-smooth strop can have such draw, almost suction on very hollow ground razors. It absolutely seems to add an extra level of sharpness on my wider hollow ground razors especially. And I love the feel of using it, and the smell of it.

In contrast, I have a Tony Miller 2" horse strop that I love, completely different feel. Thick, hard, slick, near-zero draw on any razor. But very, very fast. I use it as a "finishing" strop after linen and latigo too, and also like the results.

TM's horsehide does not feel the same as cordovan. Cordovan is much smoother and slicker. Which is better for razors? I don't know. I'm not even sure it makes a difference. But I love all my strops, even the practice strop I got for the heck of it. Ok, maybe I've only used it once, but I still use the apprentice latigo and my srd one, and a vintage horse one.... :gaah:

Thanks all for your input. The cordovan is the key question here: is vintage cordovan shell worth $45? is it even a good idea to have a cordovan shell as my ONLY strop? Or as JimmyHAD prefers, ought I look first for linen, latigo then cordovan?

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Originally Posted by Ichinichi

Thanks all for your input. The cordovan is the key question here: is vintage cordovan shell worth $45? is it even a good idea to have a cordovan shell as my ONLY strop? Or as JimmyHAD prefers, ought I look first for linen, latigo then cordovan?

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Actually the SRD premium 1 isn't their latigo. It has the perfect draw for me but that might not be perfect for you. Here is an archived thread that is very instructive as to the value of the linen component and on stropping in general. Particularly post # 4 by mparker. Many guys have one strop whether cordovan shell or latigo.The important thing is that you like the feel of the strop and that if it is a vintage strop the surface is in good condition.

back in the day Cordovan was considered THE strop for barbers use but I thing its ability to last a long time was key there. I've had strops from just about every critter out there and in the end they all do the same job. I have one of those Kanayama's and they are very luxurious but do the work better than my TM Horse or red latigo or DD vintage extra thick horse? Not to me.

As far as the price question it depends on the condition really.

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Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

Brand new? Well and truly worth the money, they sell for far more than that everywhere. Secondhand? Depends on its current state.

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Current state:

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/3703/strop.png

Personally that strop wouldn't be something I would go for. IMO you'd be better off with a new one or a vintage strop in excellent + condition.

thanks, Jimmy, but why would you not go for it?

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Originally Posted by Ichinichi

thanks, Jimmy, but why would you not go for it?

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In a vintage strop I would keep my eye out for a pro barber strop, 24" long both leather and linen with the correct hardware at the top. I'd make sure that the surfaces were clean, supple and free of nicks. That piece might be alright but for $45 it wouldn't be worth it to me. I've seen vintage strops as described above go for less on ebay.

My apprentice strop is in better condition than that strop....

Don't buy it is my advice. Or get it for $10. That way you can't lose.

Not saying it can't be restored, I'm just saying I personally would not buy it for $45. I have a lot of experience with cordovan finger tabs and it is some of the slickest stuff I've laid my hands on. Incredibly smooth, smoother than a baby's butt. They do make synthetic stuff, which feels similar. Not sure if its adaptable for strop making though.

I wonder if cordovan is available from other countries without horse killing prohibitions.