Thread: Strop leather differences

Randy,
That is one of the Jemicos I was evaluating. They have 3 different leathers, Rindleder, Russian and a Red Finish Russian that feels like it has red paste on/in it.
Tony

Thanks for all the replies guys, much appreciated.

Tony: Did you have a preference for the russian leather or the Rindleder, or find them both the same?

Russian leather is better and much tougher than rindleder. Russian shell is horsehide while rindleder is deer leather. In German a stag is a "rind" and leather is "leder". While it makes a nice, soft strop, it doesn't have the draw, firmness and density of Russian Shell. Cowhide doesn't, either, but the better cowhides like Latigo are also more suitable for strops than rindleder, in my opinion. Rindleder was the less expensive alternative in Germany.

The best leather of all is Cordovan. Cordovan takes months to make due to very special and painstaking processing. It is a horshide oval from the butt cheeks of a horse and every horsehide yields only two (2) ovals of cordovan that averages 18 inches long by about 14 inches wide.

At one time, this was the premier "finishing strop" material used by barbers and gentlemen for decades in the 19th century and early 20th. The advent of the automobile and decline of the straight razor combined to put virtually all the manufacturers of cordovan leather out of business. There are still a few manufacturers worldwide but it's very hard to get a place in the limited supply line. That, of course, is why there aren't any cordovan strops being made today.

What makes cordovan special is the outstanding density, texture, super smooth finish that is almost devoid of grain and it is the most durable, toughest leather known. Perfect for something that we drag steel blades across to sharpen day in and day out.
.

Great info, Robert!

Nenad

Thanks a lot for the info robert, you've made up my mind

Just out interest, I bet you have a cordovan strop dont ya?

Yes, I have a cordovan strop. I had to make it myself, but I have it.

I called the only company that makes cordovan leather in North America any more. A shell (lady said it was 3-4 sq. feet) is $200! I'll get one one day and make my own strop. Right now I'm waiting on some Handamerican red and red diamond. That'll have to do for now, to go with my latigo strops.

4 square feet would make 12 12x2 inch strops, assuming its square, oval shaped would give 4 long strops and 2 short strops, so leather costs for a strop would be about 30-35$, lets tack on 5 for fittings, 10 for a linen side and 20 in labour, that works out at roughly 70$ per strop, not too far away from current strop prices. There may be some life in cordovan strops yet.

3 square feet is what you usually get. 4 square feet..... I've never seen a cordovan oval that would net 4 square. And being oval..... you get appx 1 18" x 2.5" strop - maybe 2 if you got lucky and a few strips for paddle strops. The oval shape doesn't make it easy to maximize the use of them. But it's great stuff.

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