Thread: Help identify my strop

Hi I received a strop from my grandpa, and I'm unsure exactly what I have and how to use it. Any help would be appreciated.... It's 2 pieces. The top strop is Theo A. KOCHS Company shell horse hide with the number 200 on it. Then there's a 2nd layer/strop that I don't believe is leather. It has labels of keene-edge silk finish, Hess hair milk lab, and the number 401. I'm sure they are going to need to be conditioned before I use it on my knives, because it hasn't been used in many years but seems to be in great condition yet.

Welcome aboard,,,,,,,,,,,

That's a nice looking strop. If you get a chance,,, take a close up photo of the labels/writing.


Here are some links to get you started & teach you how to use it.

Razor stropping - Straight Razor Place Library

Razor Strops - Straight Razor Place Library

Theo Kochs was a big time supply outfit. if you went into a barber shop back in the day the chair probably had his name on the footrest and much of the other hardware the barber used came from him. He didn't manufacture the items but everything he sold was quality material. The strop was probably made by one of the specialty strop makers in the country.

Thanks for the reply. Here are some close-ups

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

MAN! I am away from my strops, but I have an old Hess strop which mirrors my Neil Miller Horween Shell.
ANYTHING with Hess on it seems to be good!

Nice Strops!

Thanks! So what is the Hess strop constructed from and can it be cleaned?

Originally Posted by Spydie

Thanks! So what is the Hess strop constructed from and can it be cleaned?

Hess sold a plethora of products from many suppliers, I think. Could be horsehide, I think shell (rump) is accurate.

Your's looks as rubbing with a damp tea towel and then lots of the palm on the leather should be best.

Welcome to SRP. That strop would probably cost you $200.00 or more if it was made by a company nowadays. Shell is as good as it gets for stropping razors or wearing wingtips (shoes). The old linens are great too. That strop looks to be in fine condition. If you're going to mess with straight razors I'd suggest you practice on a different strop, even if you have to buy one. We tend to nick 'em up when we are starting out ...... and then some.

You can clean the linen portion, it has been mentioned in several threads. A quick search should yield great results. A little concerned with the label with a cleaning process that involves a machine though. I'm sure a more knowledgable member will chime in.