Thread: Llama brand strop??

Hi. Just received a vintage strop that I won off ebay and was wondering if anyone could give me information on it. This is a "Llama" brand strop but right under the "Llama" insignia it says "South American Camel"??? CAMEL? I am relatively new to the world of straight razors but have been reading up a lot on everything including strops but have not yet read anything about the quality of Camel leather. The strop overall is in quite good condition. It has two pieces of leather (two strops) held togther by a bracket and hook, at the top. The top piece of leather is kind of slick but the bottom piece of leater is labeled with "every-dot-a-hone". Each side of this piece of leather is full of a pattern of dots that reminds me of some diamond hones that I have seen. One side of the piece of leather has a finer/smaller pattern of dots and the other side is a "rougher"/larger pattern of "dots". Not an expert but this seems like a good strop to me but I was wondering if anyone has experience or owns one of these "South American Camel"/"Every-dot-a-hone" strops?
Any information would be greatly appreciated
Thanks!

If I'm not mistaken the Llama being a beast of burden in South America is colloquially referred to as the equivalent of a camel in South America. Whether the strop is made from the hide of one of those fellows and how it would preform if it is would be a question I couldn't answer.

Post some pics (for fun).

I would imagine after you oil/lather up the leather and get it supple again it will works like a champ.

Hi Jimmy,

Thanks for the quick reply. I was just doing a little more research and I think you are on the right track. It looks like the Llama is in the Camel family from what I was reading. I wondering why they just didn't label it as Llama if that is indeed what it really is.

Tony

I am going to take some pics and hopefully post them tomorrow. I tried taking some pics last night but had problems with the camera.

Llama is a high-end brand by Kanoyama (Kanayama). They're made of horsehide, mostly cordovan. ZethLent wrote an interesting post about them on B&B.

edit: o wait - no need to link to our friends: ZethLent posted this here too...

Originally Posted by Oldengaerde

Llama is a high-end brand by Kanoyama (Kanayama). They're made of horsehide, mostly cordovan. ZethLent wrote an interesting post about them on B&B.

edit: o wait - no need to link to our friends: ZethLent posted this here too...

Oldengaerde from the description in the OP I think that it is a different strop. His says,"South American Camel". Perhaps an older version of the Kanoyama or a different mfg.

I remember now that there IS a manufacturers name on the bottom of the strop. I will look at it again tonight, when I try to take a pic of it. Thanks to all who replied!

I used to have a Camel Leather Strop. It worked fine no better or worse than any other strop I've used.