Thread: Old Red Imp strop question.

Whilst on the subject Jim maybe you can answere a question.
This strop is the finest I own,Mecca Brand,scotch horse shell.F.W.E special.
I got it NOS in the orig wrapping.Question is The linin componant seems to be treated with an almost smooth plaster like finish,have never used it.
Ever see such a thing.

From what I've heard they used a chalk material to stiffen the linen strops. The red Imp I have does not have this. It has a material sewn in between which acts as a stiffener. I clean that one with hot water, some detergent and a scrub brush. It comes out looking like new.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Whilst on the subject Jim maybe you can answere a question.
This strop is the finest I own,Mecca Brand,scotch horse shell.F.W.E special.
I got it NOS in the orig wrapping.Question is The linin componant seems to be treated with an almost smooth plaster like finish,have never used it.
Ever see such a thing.

+ 1 What thebigspendur said. NOS linens from back in the day have that chalk. That strop, FWE horse shell is as good as it gets Bill.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

+ 1 What thebigspendur said. NOS linens from back in the day have that chalk. That strop, FWE horse shell is as good as it gets Bill.

It do's look like a chalk of sorts,it has a waxy feel.Maybe next time I have a blade going off it's feed I may try using it.
Your rgt Jim,that strop is IMO the best of the best,I do have an Aberdeen S.S Irsco?? made, that is a close second.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

It do's look like a chalk of sorts,it has a waxy feel.Maybe next time I have a blade going off it's feed I may try using it.
Your rgt Jim,that strop is IMO the best of the best,I do have an Aberdeen S.S Irsco?? made, that is a close second.

Ebay has been good to me years ago. I've got a Red Imp, a Certyfide with the Russian Cyrillic writing in the circular logo at the top, it is also a Certyfide. A couple of vintage and different C-Mon shells, a very old NOS Koken shell, a Craftsman, a Wester Bros, and a Dubl Duck. Those IIRC are all of my vintage strops. All are first rate. I rotate through them and my SRD premium 1, Tony Miller horse, HandAmerican horse and my Kanayama 80,000. The last one is almost too pretty to use.

I have a DD model 50 Horse strop which is a close second to the Imp just that it is shorter but does have a handle. I'm sad to say none of my modern strops come close to these two as good as the new ones are and they are very fine pieces. These two are really special.