Quote Originally Posted by honedright
I understand that the 24" cordovan strops were made from leather that came from large draft horses which provided the size required. Have the number of draft horses (Percheons, Clydesdales) dwindled that much in the last century?

Scott
I think the uses for the horses have changed and therefore the availablity of the hides. In early times, well into the 1900s draft horses were used for much hauling as well as agricultural use in plowing, etc... They were work horses, beasts of burden really and when the were retired or died their meat and hides were used for whatever they could. Today, although the magnificent horses are still plentiful they are privately owned on farms and for show. When they pass or are put down they would rarely be sold having basically serving as pets and loved by someone.

My daughter owns 7 quarter horses and they are as dear to her as any house pet and animals like this never enter the recycling market when they die.

Tony