See image.
It's looking more like crocodile than cow lately.
http://www.personal.psu.edu/its5014/...s/PICT0006.JPG
Any way to fix this? Is the only way to prevent it to keep the strop straight at all times? (It seems to have been caused by looping the strop to transport it).
Always keep the strop FLAT when transporting.
Never roll it up...
As far as a fix, it may be too far gone...
Ian, it looks like its time for a good cleaning. Get some saddlesoap and use it per instructions, you may wish to repeat the process to get the strop really clean, I would use a soft bristle brush (toothbrush maybe) to get the crud from the crevices. After the strop has dried sufficiently I would give it one or two coats as necessary of neatsfoot oil, baseball glove oil or a similar natural product. This should help immensely.
Edit. When I travel with a strop, I roll it leather side out, this way the leather doesn't get "scrunched'"
The fact that I didn't think to roll it leather side out fills me with shame.
It's so obvious now that you mention it.
Good thing it was a $15 strop....
and I've already bought a replacement.
I snagged some saddlesoap anyway. Might as well try and restore it, worthwhile practice at least. Plus it has to last me until Xmas when I can go pick up my new strop (had it shipped to parents because I was visiting them, but seller took a week to ship and it arrived the same day I left. :P)