Thread: Think this is genuine shell?

Good morning gents, I recently took a gamble on the bay and ordered a strop from Spain, the title says cordovan and linen but the description says shell cordovan and linen. Here is the link to the add, it was super cheap for what I am used to seeing even horse butt going for, Straight Razor Leather Canvas Strop Leather Horse Cordovan Linen | eBay. I am still waiting for it to arrive estimated delivery is March 10.

Think I got a steal, or ripped off?
Input from more experienced eyes would be appreciated. Have a great day gentlemen

The linen looks fine but the leather doesn't look like shell. You will be better able to tell when you get it. If it was shell and first quality you got better than a steal.

That's kind of what I figured considering its 1/10th the price of any shell I have seen. At this point I'll be happy if it's even horse. I'm using English bridle and felt right now so a different combination will be fun.

The pictures don't show enough, the close up does not look like shell but the back looks like it might be. There is another piece that come off the horse, not shell but from the same area. Possibly that outer layer

You will have to wait and see.

Yeah, honestly as long as it is horse ill be fine with it. Time will tell as to what it really is. Hopefully it arrives sooner than the 10th estimation.

One of the few tanneries that still makes shell cordovan is in Spain. Its possible this is, the back of the leather looks similar to Horween's Cordovan. Post back when you get it!

It could be shell. I don't really see a grain.

Over the holidays, I came across a domestic US seller of new "Horween" strops. The price was about the same as yours. When it arrived and I took it out of the box, it had a cheap quality about it, as though a false backing had been glued to the strop side. I sent it back and received a refund.

Not to say yours is the real deal or not, as it was impossible for me to tell myself upon purchasing. When it arrives, take some focussed, detail shots of the stropping surface, the side, and the back of the strop and post it here before using.

Brontosaurus, there will be plenty of pics taken and posted here when it arrives It might be hard for me to send it back for a refund, if it turns out to be say TPU, seeing as the seller is in Spain and doesn't appear to speak English lol. The optimist in me is hoping and praying it is real shell, but the realist is me say to not get my hopes up and that it might just be calf skin or something similar on a thicker backing. Unless its shipped flat, if it shows up with wrinkles I'll know for sure.

Update: I was able to find the brand, it is a Noel Del Hierro, has anyone heard of this brand? I found their website but it is of course in Spanish, I knew I should have paid more attention in high school lol. the only other things I can find are a couple "show and tell" threads on some other forums.