Strop leather differences

Hi everyone, first post from a long time lurker, looking to pick the collective brain.

I'm looking to buy a strop, to start my adventure into straight shaving, particularly the dovo russian leather, and the dovo prima rindleder.

On classicshaving, the text implies the russian leather is by far the better choice, I was just wondering what some of the experienced shavers thought about it?

Also, will the addition of a linen part to the strop make a large difference? Perhaps the fourth phase of the grand experiment?

All advice appreciated, Thanks in advance

Sean

You may also want to look into Tony's stuff.

Having looked into Tonys Heirloom strops, I was sorley tempted, though decided I'd be better off buying the strop locally ( both the strops I have mentioned are just down the road from me ).

I'll hold off on buying a nice pasted paddle strop and belgian stone until my birthday, afterall, you have to have to something to look forward to. :)

Sean

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SSY

Hi everyone, first post from a long time lurker, looking to pick the collective brain.

I'm looking to buy a strop, to start my adventure into straight shaving, particularly the dovo russian leather, and the dovo prima rindleder.

On classicshaving, the text implies the russian leather is by far the better choice, I was just wondering what some of the experienced shavers thought about it?

Also, will the addition of a linen part to the strop make a large difference? Perhaps the fourth phase of the grand experiment?

All advice appreciated, Thanks in advance

Sean

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I've got the DOVO Strop...Bought it from Classic Shaving. It works well. It has linen on one side, and leather on the other. The handle is nice. I think the next one I buy will be from Tony, as his are wider and quite frankly LOOK much nicer.

Hope this helps,

Jim :cool:

Welll didn't you chime in on the right day?
I love it whaen a plan comes together.

X

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jmcamp54

I've got the DOVO Strop...Bought it from Classic Shaving. It works well. It has linen on one side, and leather on the other. The handle is nice. I think the next one I buy will be from Tony, as his are wider and quite frankly LOOK much nicer.

Hope this helps,

Jim :cool:

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Which one did you buy? The russian leather or the prima rindleder?

Thanks for the help. Sean

Edit: Plan? What plan? I hope nothing maniacal is gunna happen on my first day here ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SSY

Which one did you buy? The russian leather or the prima rindleder?

Thanks for the help. Sean

Edit: Plan? What plan? I hope nothing maniacal is gunna happen on my first day here ;)

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I bought the $74.99 one. It's the one here www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522944/196032.htm

But I'd Jump on Tony's "Special, Limited Edition, Rare" Abbreviated Length Strops. (did I miss any of the superlatives?)


Later,

Jim :cool:

In all honesty you can't really make a bad choice with any of the better strops, my Heirlooms, the Dovos from Classic Shaving or the Jemico strops.

I have a few Jemicos I have been evaluating with a few more on the way and am pretty impressed. They have quite a variety or leather types for each size and have been around since 1900 or so.

The "rare specials" jim was refering to are beginner strops from my starter kits that well, are a little um, special (shorter than they should be).

Tony

I think he's asking about types of leather so he can arrange his own from his home town.

X

My main strops came from Tony. I picked up a Colonel Conk strop for about 1/3 of it's price as a travel strop. The only other strop I have considered is at the Knife Center Store.

RT

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. :rolleyes:

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.

Papabull, your mailbox is full. :eek:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SSY

... the text implies the russian leather is by far the better choice, I was just wondering what some of the experienced shavers thought about it?

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See what you get when you ask a simple question around here? A Debate! I love it!

I went down the Horsehide/Horse Butt route around december last year. I actually found several sources for Cordovan and what one seller calls "North Of Cordovan" which is the long strips of leather just above and two the sides of the oval "butts". This cheek leather which I found oth vegtable tanned in hard and soft finish and in a Latigo finish had a good feel but because of flaws in the hides yeilded only 2 strops each which makes materials alone about $45 a strop and neither had a finish that looked like something I would put my logo on. The ovals were about $70 to $140 each depending on source and neither would have yielded more than one 18" strop. At that point I decided to stick with the choices I had been using.
If these were hides I could have inspected first hand I may have done better but what was sent to me was of inferior quality.
Despite what is printed or pictured on ANY commercially made strop today cows are the source, not horses.
Tony

I think that if you really want a horse shell strop the place to go is Eboy. They come up now and then and aren't too expensive and of course are vintage. I was lucky enough to get a Double Duck Horse Shell strop some time ago. Its very nice.

I know this prob sounds like a paid commercial for tony but its just my opinion...I've tried many diff strops and in my humble opinion tony's are the best stroping and highest quality Ive seen including hardware...the fact that hes not local thats why god made fedex...I was so impressed with his strops, I bought duplicates and put them away in case he retires...also I had him make my normal strop longer then usual to put a longer stroke on razor and had him make a travel strop his normal length so when I travel and in tighter space I can still use his strop...personal pref I prefer strops over paddle as I found only using a paddle when I travel affects my stroping tech as its diff stroke due to length and width 3 in vs 2 in of paddle vs strop...strop takes no room up in luggage as oppossed to paddle..like with every thing else I like long smooth strokes!

Thanks Charlie, I'm blushing now <g>. ( I think Charlie owns 5 of my strops now).

He had mentioned to me he liked hanging strops for travel and I am working on a few prototypes were the strop is leather only, a little narrower and a little shorter and rolls into a neat bundle with a strap keeping it rolled up. They will have a hanging thong so you can use a bathroom or hotel doorknob instead of a hook when travelling. The width will optional with 2", 2 1/2" and 3" as choices.

Thanks guys for all the support.

Tony

i have a Classic russian strop. i was lucky enough to locate a new old stock Shell leather strop. i think the shell works better.

<<< In German a stag is a "rind" and leather is "leder". >>>

PapaBull,
Rind is also commonly used to mean cow in German as well. Most translator programs and my German friend swill translate it as cow.

Juchten though is one that it sems no one can actually translate other than to say it has something to do with strops <g>.

Real "Russian Shell" is the best of all.

Tony

Okay, just went bck through my correspondance from Dovo about their strops. They list "Rind Leder" as cowhide and "Juchten" as Russian Process meaning (if I understand it correcxtly) a slow tanning process using special bark products and usually a compressing of the leather as well.


If you look at an Illinois (Fromm) #827 you can see theirs is a reversed leather in which the business side is the rough. interior side of the hide that has been compressed to make it hard.

The would be a great thread for Keith DeGrau to jump in on as he is very familiar with the tanning processes. I think he has described his leather as being pretty close to the shell process.

Tony

Tony,

I have a question for you. I have an extra wide strop I got from Classic shaving about a year ago. One side is smooth leather the other side is bumpy red . Is this red side used? I have never used it.

Rich,
I am sure this is setup with one side clearly being the "front" which is probably not the bumpy side. On several Russians I have seen the bumps are always on the reverse and sem to be a byproduct of the compressing process. The Illinois has a series or ridges pressed into the reverse and my real Russian made strop has a diamond pattern embossed from the back. My Jemico Russian has the pebble effect too.

It probably was not designed to be used but depending on the texture you may want to try it. I find the reveese side of some of the Hand American leather to have a really nice texture.

Tony

Thanks Tony I didn't think it was meant to be used but I wasn't sure.