Thread: Cordovan strop life

I have a Strop that was probably 20 to 30 years old when I got it. Have used it for 30 years. It has nicks. The handles have been resewed but it's still going strong.

Thanks for the replies gentlemen.

My main concern is the change in draw and losing the buttery feel it currently has. I have seen some strops turn darker from use. Just wondering if those feel the same now as when new. I do agree that they can still be used for numerous years. I am not a big fan of glassy strops and was hoping it wouldn't turn glassy with use.

It is all about maintenance, hydration with water and oil. I suspect just regular use of constant flexing the leather hand cleaning and polishing and stropping does a lot to keep the leather supple.

Probably the worst thing is letting them sit and dry out.

The problem with hand rubbing is the dirt on your hand and grinding in airborne dust.

I strop on a pair of Kanayamas one vintage 20-30 years old, one new 5-6 years old. I like the vintage a bit more, but they feel very close in performance. They are both kept in the house.

I wipe with a damp cloth often and add a couple drops of Ballistol every couple of months.

My shop strop, probably much older, stays in the shop gets more water and oil as it stays in an unheated shop, also lots more dust, but I do keep covered. I wipe it with a damp sponge almost daily. All 3 are soft , floppy and smooth.

its leather my friend so treat it like leather,, cordovan is just a process in the leather. and by the way I have one from the master made in 1947, its still the best piece I have and I don't do anything but keep it clean, no palm rubbing, but when I clean it I use a microfiber cloth damp. in between uses I have a strop sock on it

The vintage Kanayama 50 that I have is 10 years old and all that’s ever been done to it is it’s been wiped with a warm damp cotton cloth once or twice a year, the strops I have that are well loved don’t get any hand rubbing just a light damp cloth wiping down and a very light treatment of Venetian shoe cream once a year but the Kanayama just gets the water

Yea, barbers used Cordovan strops their entire careers and they were still useable when the retired.

As long as you take care of it, it will last indefinitely. It may darken and change appearance but will always be serviceable.

I treat all my leather strops with Ballistol. It just works. Check it out at ballistol.com It just takes a little!
Slawman

I bought my first Kanoyama cordovan strop in 2009, it's marked as a "3" inside the gold wreath. I've liked it so much that last year I bought a Kanoyama 80,000. Kind of like you, as a "backup" because I wasn't sure how long they'd still be making them, or still be worth buying even if they were making them. Plus I wanted the nice thick suede strop that it comes with. And I'm honestly a spoiled man-child that just loves and appreciates all things strops and stropping. I even strop already sharp and stropped razors, just for relaxation. I'm sure others here have the same affliction. So owning at least one Kanoyama cordovan strop at some point is a given for someone like me.

Other than being very careful with it to keep it nick-free all that time, I haven't done anything specific to take care of it. It has hung in a centrally air-conditioned/heated house, mostly in my bathroom, or adjacent bedroom during the brief times it has been out of my daily strop rotation. I hand-rub it occasionally, not to treat it, but just because I just like the draw feel when it's warm. While I haven't used it daily during those 10 years, I've certainly used it regularly all that time, and it looks and feels to me the same as the first day I got it. Pristine.

The 80,000 Kanoyama is thick and luxurious and cool and has it's own thing going, but I confess I actually still prefer the pure glass-slick texture of my little entry-level "3" Kanoyama. Great and unique strops, and it will be a sad day when they stop making them.