Thread: Strop made of Chrome tanned Horse hide Butt, smooth as butter?

Hi Gent's, a while back I bought some chrome tanned horse hide butts for sheaths and strop making, I make Bow strops that have worked excellent on knives and hope to cross over to razor stropping.
Do any of you use an old horse hide strop? An old barber told me the best strops were made of Horse hide,chrome tanned of course. Thanks, Dave.

I use veg tanned horse butt and have for years. Just a strip that I cut off of a horse butt strip and put hardware on. It's inexpensive and extremely effective, but you do have to spend some time conditioning the surface of the leather in most cases.

I don't know much about chrome tanning processes or any of that other stuff, I've always used veg tanned leather where available.

A lot of hides come from factories as by products of other industries. The tanneries that buy them, eg chromexel (the hint is in the name) and shell cordovan, both by Horween, use their own tanning techniques.

To safeguard the hides and to preserve them the original seller pacs them wet in a solution containg chromium salts. You may have come across the term 'wet blue' which is used to describe them.

The hides then undergo a full vegetable retannage, Contrary to an erroneus post by a new user on this forum, all hint of the blue colouration is removed.

Regards,
Neil

I picked up some veg tanned horse hide from a local leather shop and i think it finishes an edge better than cow hide. it feels a lot smoother too

when i first got into strop making i picked up some veg tanned and chrome tanned to decide what to use and i could get the chrome tan to strop a razor to save my life. i was very disappointed cause chrome tanned often feels smooth and looks like it would be awesome for stropping. none the less i have use veg tanned ever since, let us know how it works you. best wishes

Horween has Chromexcel Horse Butt strips that work very well for strops. They have a very smooth surface, with more waxes and oils than staight veg tanned leather. The main strop I use is from this leather. As Neal mentioned, it is more of a vegetable re-tannage than a straight chrome tanned leather.

I've gone so far as to buy shell from horween in the past, retail, and it was a pain.

Is the chromexcel more accessible, or does one also have to go straight to horween to buy it. I don't know why I'm asking since my horsebutt shows almost no wear after three years, but I'm sure if I learn where I can get it, I'll waste some money on it. Just like I did with shell, which proved less durable than my butt strip strop (but still is a nice strop).

Thanks for the replies Gent's, tomorrow I'll be making the hardware from brass and nickle silver, the strop leather will BE 3 1/2" X 28" .

Originally Posted by DaveW

I've gone so far as to buy shell from horween in the past, retail, and it was a pain.

Is the chromexcel more accessible, or does one also have to go straight to horween to buy it. I don't know why I'm asking since my horsebutt shows almost no wear after three years, but I'm sure if I learn where I can get it, I'll waste some money on it. Just like I did with shell, which proved less durable than my butt strip strop (but still is a nice strop).

I have bought from Horween in the past as well, and they are difficult to work with. Maverick Leather Company carries a good selection of Horween stuff, and are easy to work with.