Thread: Vintage shell strops and couple of horse hide

Thanks, David! There were tool-gouges in the Pelican as shown in the 2nd pic.
Some attempted ones in the K3000.
I lightly sanded forever watching closely. The actual 'shell' is some tough stuff.
Fortunately, fairly thick on these old ones.
The Pelican still bears scars, yet strops like heaven. Hard to describe.
Some new strops out there which are sweet.
Nobody makes anything remotely close to good vintage, IMO.

Horses don't have to work nearly as hard these days!

Just ordered an oil tanned horse hide from Scrupleworks. Looking forward to compare how it draws to my old Japanese strop.

wont be as slick as the old shell, but I have one and it is one of my workhorses. I LEADED the Scrupleworks (that's right I did< here comes the crusaders!) so it gets every razor I use, but all get finished on my Kanayama, or my old Japanese strop. Tc

I love restoring & using vintage shaving gear. I have found for leather restoration & general use that Ballistol has worked best for leather hydration & general care. This product is not cheap but it works. A little goes a long way & besides leather it is so good for so many things in your home & shop. I don't work for them or anything I just love this stuff. Check it out at ballistol.com

Slawman

Originally Posted by sharptonn

In proper condition, I agree.
It is disappointing as some buy a strop stamp as some buy a tang stamp.
A toasted strop is worthless as is a toasted razor..
Save the dough and buy one which has been cared-for.
Settling for less has it's rewards!
You just don't want those!

If a strop is just VERY DRY, treat it with Ballistol adding the Ballistol at a slow rate & rubbing it into the shell with your hands. Your hands will get smooth also! I took about 5 weeks to get my imported Jager Barber Supply shell in the condition where I felt I could safely strop razors on it. This strop had hung in a friends wood shop for close to 30 years & now is my #1 strop.

Slawman

Just browsing Aframestokyo and found these VIDS of Naomi Sans workshop.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BWCpZijg..._web_copy_link
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWCo7Zpg..._web_copy_link
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWCobVXA..._web_copy_link

Doesn't show much but interesting none the less.

Originally Posted by tcrideshd

wont be as slick as the old shell, but I have one and it is one of my workhorses. I LEADED the Scrupleworks (that's right I did< here comes the crusaders!) so it gets every razor I use, but all get finished on my Kanayama, or my old Japanese strop. Tc

So in trying to out-do TC, I charged one of my vintage shells with depleted uranium powder. I don't know that it tunes up the blade any better, but I no longer need aftershave-feel the burn! (Plus the strop now glows in the dark so I don't have to turn the light on to strop).

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Otay, from down in the vaults, here are 5 .
One has another 'Certifyd' variation on the bottom. Naomi is there.
4 are stamped for suppliers. Fisher, Koken, and Popo ( a Japanese domestic supplier) and Derby.

Attachment 285575Attachment 285576Attachment 285578Attachment 285579Attachment 285580Attachment 285581Attachment 285581Attachment 285582

From left, the 3rd and 5th came in plastic advertising Red Imp strops, razors, and shears....

My Koken is #999.

Slawman

Two more I can add on, first my no frills but still good for a travel strop. A O.V.B. double leather 2" hanging strop with handles.
Second one is a nice vintage Craftsman, one side is horse shell and the other is one is horse hide. Very little use on this strop when I found it.

Sorry tried to rotate but it did not happen. Lol!