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!

Well, I really do hope that is the case and you get a usable strop that is worth at least what you paid for it. In my case, however, it wasn't merely a cosmetic flaw that might have been easily overlooked by a non-shaver. It was a major natural crease in the leather, such as near a limb joint, that allowed the whole strop to flop along it like a hinge. It was at roughly 45 degrees to the edges and about half the thickness of the hide deep. I tried to use the rough side for CrOx because it was at least level, but ultimately the hinging effect of the crease made the whole thing useless.

Best of luck with yours!

I'm very doubtful if that were Shell, the cost of producing the leather is very high so I wouldn't build your hopes up.

As am I, at this point I have already made a backup plan and have a Red Imp 700 on order as well. When it arrives I will report back with first impression quality and if it is usable after a couple shaves. Thanks for all the input guys.

Well the strop came in today.... I am almost 100% certain it is TPU glued onto a piece of pressed leather shavings. I can feel and see a very thin layer on the stoping surface that is considerably denser than the bottom. The linen is also very thin almost like a 60 thread count linen bed sheet. I am on my phone right now but will post pics when I get to my computer. It definitely looks very different from the pics on the ad.