Thread: Help ID'ing an Oddity?

I grabbed what is left of an old strop recently for next to nothing, which is probably about the actual value of it lol. As far as I could see, there were no identifying marks on it. At one point, I thought there was some sort of faint making stamped on the handle in ink or dye, but that was likely just staining/discoloration.

When I removed the hanging hardware, I found underneath "High Quality" stamped into the leather. I'm pretty sure the strop material is canvas. Also, I do not feel any sort of textural difference between the two sides, so I don't think it has been treated with an abrasive. I also assume this because there wasn't any vastly noticeable changes in the edge of a razor when I stropped it a few dozen times on each side, examining it before, between, and after.

Can anyone help me out with some additional information about it?

Pics.










Thank you in advance for your thoughtful responses!

At one time there were two parts, leather and canvas. There were so many makers of strops it's impossible to tell who made that unless someone has a canvas strop with that exact imprint. Usually the maker's mark is on the leather part. You can usually tell the quality of a strop by the thickness of the hardware. Is it solid brass or plate and heavy or thin.

Otherwise you might try and scrub it real good with plenty of soap and hot water a scrub brush and elbow grease. Just watch out for the leather ends.

Yea, what was left of the handle came off a day or two ago when I picked it up. The thread had been cut cleanly. I'll get a few close-up pics of the hardware in a but, and maybe measurements with my digital caliper.

Gotta eat breakfast before people start showing up for the mini meet I arranged at my place...

I might be wrong (as I often am), but the hardware looks like Illinois Razor Strop Co.

The hardware looks like it was added to the strop to me. Like thebigspendur said, strops were made by many back then & you would have to find someone who has a canvas strop with that exact imprint. Someone might have cut another strop & destroyed it so they more than likely used the hardware from it. No telling how many strops went into the trash but at the same time, people salvaged what they could back then. Just my 2 cents.