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Well, I was feeling a little impulsive and put a bid in on this strop on eBay.
It's marked "Scotch Tanned Butt Hide" so I am assuming it is horsehide.
It appears to be a little wrinkly and was curious how I should go about straightening it out?
As for the Leather, I plan on giving it a light sanding then cleaning it with some saddle soap, then a little neatsfoot oil.
As for the cloth side (looks like cotton), should I just give it a good rub down with a moist cloth?
Just from the photos if it was mine I wouldn't do more than hang it and use it. When you pull it taut it should flatten out just fine ... I think. I've washed a bumpy vintage linen in Woolite and cold water and dried it flat with good results but your linen looks good in the photo. That is what I would do. YMMV.
Dang! I have yet to get a decent, vintage strop on ebay or the antique stores. :rant:
LOL...congrats and +1 with Jimmy's advice. It looks in pretty good shape.
Mac
JIMMY IS RIGHT. LEATHER AND CLOTH BOTH LOOK IN DECENT SHAPE. NO DIRT OR RESIDUE ON THE CLOTH. USE THEM AS IS.
NICE FIND......... JERRY
I was watching that strop and dropped out when the price went up. You got a good one. Craftsman did not make any poor products, and that strop looks to be in excellent and useable condition.
I've got a Craftsman strop that was NOS when I got it, and it's my favorite vintage strop. The linen was wrapped in wax paper then it was sewn to the leather at the top and the handle sewn onto the bottom, right through the wax paper. I suspect it was done this way to ensure that the white paste on the linen remained intact until the buyer got it home. It was still in that condition when I got it. Lovely, lovely strop.