Thread: Do you have some info on this strop please

Hello everyone.
Do you have some information on this strop find in France.
It seems to be of very good quality with a still very flexible and like new.
Sue the linen behind there is marked "Professional Barber liner" and a drawing of clover and number 2. What does "495" mean?
Thank you in advance for your information.

Ça m'a l'air d'être du bon, le canevas me semble redoutable. Semms good stuff with an efficient linen

No special information beyond the expectation that this could be a very nice strop.
It appears to be in very nice condition...
Enjoy.

Empire Razor Co. Was in business 1860-1930. Useing those dates your strop is at least 88 years old and in great condition. Enjoy it.
I have a Hoffritz strop since the 70's and it was old then. Still useing it and still in good shape.
If you take care of it it will last a long time.

Thank you for your comments and your info.
He would be 88 years old at least !!!! I have a hard time believing it because it looks like new. Not a flounder, not a single break. even the back inscription was intact before having the bad idea to wash the lanyard. The leather is as supple as my new buy strop there is four years ago. Do you think it can be cordovan?

Originally Posted by antoine46

Do you think it can be cordovan?

It is possible because the it is marked "Genuine Shell" and that is the type of leather from the horse's rump now referred to as Shell Cordovan. Mind you it depends on how it was tanned to qualify as Cordovan which is a tanning process.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shell_cordovan

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

It is possible because the it is marked "Genuine Shell" and that is the type of leather from the horse's rump now referred to as Shell Cordovan. Mind you it depends on how it was tanned to qualify as Cordovan which is a tanning process.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shell_cordovan

Bob

It really is a good looking strop.
Shell takes a bit of practice... it is so smooth and fast but will refresh a razor so
well that I wish I had invested in one or two 40+ years ago. One of my Irish shell
strops has a silk/cotton blend canvas side.
Good leather is hard to come by and the big slaughterhouses of the day were surrounded
by leather tanning plants. And those were surrounded by cobblers, strop makers, saddle makers...
A strop like this might be a "standard" strop with the customers logo pressed on it. The same
way some razors had local hardware or local store custom logos etched on them.

This one looks like a prize. As I said shell feels very different so strop slowly
and with care the drag of the razor on the strop is so light it may feels as if
it is running away from you but it is just perfect for shell.

If you think it needs to be broken in for you I would be happy to give it forty years of testing
and break in for you no charge.

enjoy.

Empire Razor Co and Empire Knife were old manufacturers.
I feel Empire Cutlery was a seller in NYC. I put it mid 1900's at oldest.
Really nice strop, it seems. It has been well cared-for. Enjoy!

Again thank you friends for all it is information.
But I'm really sure of its state of preservation, I feel like I bought it today. He is in an exceptional state. I just passed the palm of the hand on principle. It's a slaughter, much better than my strop, which is itself of good quality.
But I think I will not use it because I have trouble with him. I can not handle it well. My strop that I use for several years to a handle. And I miss her.
I'm too scared to hurt him and I do not want to use this leather to restore a paddle

And the "495" it corresponds to what ????

It would be a model number for that dealer.
A shame to not use it, even on occasion.