Thread: Double leather strop: Horse shell & Russian Yak?

Acquired this week, two leather strops in one set of hardware.





The one is marked "Genuine Shell" (with a horse head) and, at the bottom, "Stropwell 305" (or maybe "505"). Smooth front and back.

The other is marked at the top "Russian Yak" (with a yak image), and, at the bottom, "Stropwell ..." (can't quite make it out). Seems to be rougher, and the back has the diamond crosshatching that I've seen on "Russian Shell" strops. It's also extremely thick and heavy, about x3 as thick as the accompanying shell strop.

I can't find very much info on Stropwell strops, and almost nothing on "Russian Yak" strops. Is it actually yak hide? Or is it likely just to be a "model name"?

Any thoughts on these?

The condition wasn't too bad for either, though the Yak one is really rather rough. I sanded the shell one down. It does have a bit of nick in the side near the hand end, but it doesn't seem to get in the way. It had a number of "indentations as if something heavy had sat atop it for a while. I sanded these as best I could. Nice and smooth and nice fast draw. The Yak one I sanded a bit, but I think I need to do a bit more.

[a few more shots]

I used to have a Yak strop. kind of like buffalo hide but tougher.

Now if you come upon a Yeti Strop then you really have something.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I used to have a Yak strop. kind of like buffalo hide but tougher.

Now if you come upon a Yeti Strop then you really have something.

What do you think Yak strops are good for? Are they just another leather strop? Or something to use in place of canvas? Or something to use inbetween canvas & (other) leather?

All leather strops do the same thing. it's a matter of do you like the feel of it and then the cosmetics of it.