Quote Originally Posted by WW243 View Post
When I look at his strops a simple question occurs to me and perhaps some of the strop makers could answer: if his strops are the stuff of legends, why aren't more leather workers using this material? Does he also breed the cattle? It is not magic, it is bovine or horse. I'm sure there are many craftsman who could make a long rectangle and attach some hardware....so again it must be his source of material....they are beautiful!
As I understand it, real "shell" cordovan is a specific membrane from a horse's behind, which provides two shells of material per horse , just enough for a pair of shoes. There is also some sort of complex six month "magic" tanning involved (there's a short description here from the tannery Shell Cordovan « Horween Leather Company ). So material cost is way high.