Ah, cordovan. The word actually refers to a complex, time consuming tanning process developed many years ago in north Africa. The "shell" refers to two small oval patches of thin, flat muscle attached to the underside of the skin on rump of the horse. It's what allows the horse to twitch his skin back there to shoe away flies and what not. Cordovan tanned shell has a mirror finish and is very strong, thin and durable. The African, now Western, tanning process included dying the shell to a very dark reddish brown color (oxblood) which gives its name to those very expensive shoes. Shell strops were commonplace 80 or more years ago when there were nearly as many horses around as people, not so much now. There's only one manufacturer of cordovan shell left in the US and production is somewhat irregular. (There are only a few producers left in the rest of the world, to boot.)

As you might imagine, since the shell is scarce it is expensive, meaning that strops are the same. Oh, the Japanese use a slightly modified tanning process and usually dye the shell a light brown (and the material is about twice the thickness of the Western shell - older horses, I suppose). It is also scarce and expensive.

Anyhoo.. cordovan shell strops are cream-of-the-crop luxury items now and are highly prized by us dopes who value style over function. OK, OK - they are a joy to use and many will disagree with my statement that the edge produced is no different than that produced by any other quality strop but that's the personal aspect of the sport once again.


rs,
Tack