Thread: New TM - Horsehide?

Received my new Tony Miller strop, and I am very impressed with the level of craftsmanship displayed in the strop. Really a well made product, clearly lots of care goes into each strop.

However, I have a question for all the TM Horsehide owners out there.
The horsehide on this strop is different than on my previous horsehide strop. There are "ripples" or areas of differing coloration along the full length of the strop. These patterns have no effect on stropping - in fact, I cannot even feel them when running my hand up and down the leather.

Please do not take this post as an affront to Mr. Miller or his products - I was simply wondering if this falls under the normal variation of horsehide leather.

Mine looks about the same as Yours.

I think the horse probably lifted a lot of weights when it was younger and then stopped lifting.

I love the looks of that leather!




Must.........resist...............keep.....credit card..................in ...............pocket.........................

Yup- leather is skin and so it varies... every animal I've skinned/helped skinned (kudu, warthog, sheep, cow- and I've even tanned a lamb/sheep skin) has had variations- scars, "ripples" and in some cases, thick/thin spots etc. The good thing about TM (and kenrup and all those strop guys) is they actively check the leather and don't use any hide that has detrimental variations.

I think the nice even colouring in latigo and other every day leathers is most a result of dye rather than ultra pure, evenly coloured leather

This is fairly typical coloration for most of my horsehide. I mention on my storefront the horsehide will range from a light tan to a varigated woodgrain pattern. I usually describe it as looking like quartersawn oak with all the "rays".

This is in the structure of the skin, not raised or recessed below the surface.


Tony

Originally Posted by loueedacat

I think the horse probably lifted a lot of weights when it was younger and then stopped lifting.

Yup, Definitely Stretch marks.....

I recived my Heirloom hosrehide a few weeks back and it looks similar to yours.

That's a terrible strop. Don't let Tony fool you. I'll bet that strop will destroy all of your razors. Send it to me for immediate disposal. I'll spare you the ruined razors. As a matter of fact you should pay me to take it off your hands.

That's a real beauty and typical of the grain on Horsehide of that quality.