Thread: puzzled by my strop

I bought my strop second hand and am a bit confused by it.

It's a Suntorbach 2"x14" two-sided strop. Rather small with black leather.

I am trying to figure out
A: what the number 2250 on it means. Is this simply a serial # stamped on by the company, or does it have meaning for the stropper?

B: The back side of the strop is leather, but this side appears to be hardly used and has a weird square grid pattern that looks pressed on. Does anyone know what this is?

2250 is the model number.

Strops vary in material used, width and length.


A 2250 is 2 x 14. For arguments sake, there might be a 3250 model that is 3 x 14.

A 2260 that is 2 x 16. 2280 is 2 x 18 and so on.

Too narrow and too short for my tastes but YMMV and if it works that is all that matters.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Too narrow and too short for my tastes but YMMV and if it works that is all that matters.

YMMV?

I agree that it is too short and narrow, especially since I'm still perfecting my stropping skills.

Any insight as to why the back of the strop would have a different surface? It's not a linen but is certainly a different grade than the front.

I have seen strops with the diamond shape stamped back. Could have been part of a process to compress the leather and provide a different surface for a compound to be added for sharpening.

I have a home made travel strop of near similar size. It actually works so well that I use it full time for over a year. Good luck with it---now is the backside black as well? Can you tell if it was made to be black or if something was added later to make it that way?

Originally Posted by kevint

I have seen strops with the diamond shape stamped back. Could have been part of a process to compress the leather and provide a different surface for a compound to be added for sharpening.

I have a home made travel strop of near similar size. It actually works so well that I use it full time for over a year. Good luck with it---now is the backside black as well? Can you tell if it was made to be black or if something was added later to make it that way?

Okay, I can see the back being used as a paste side. Thanks kevint.

The back is black as well. As far as I can tell the black was imbedded into the leather because I can see tan colour where I nicked it.

Originally Posted by Samuel

......snip....
B: The back side of the strop is leather, but this side appears to be hardly used and has a weird square grid pattern that looks pressed on. Does anyone know what this is?

One piece only correct?

The back of a Russian leather strop will have a grid like pattern pressed
in it. The grid side is not used to strop. It is a result of the leather
being squeezed between a ribbed roller and a flat roller to press a
flat surface polished surface on one side and in some cases split the
leather to an accurate thickness.

This post has an image of the back of a Russian leather strop
(Illinois 827).
http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...tml#post530066
BTW this 827 is a good strop.

Originally Posted by niftyshaving

One piece only correct?

The back of a Russian leather strop will have a grid like pattern pressed
in it. The grid side is not used to strop. It is a result of the leather
being squeezed between a ribbed roller and a flat roller to press a
flat surface polished surface on one side and in some cases split the
leather to an accurate thickness.

This post has an image of the back of a Russian leather strop
(Illinois 827).
http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...tml#post530066
BTW this 827 is a good strop.

Surprisingly mine is a two piece. But both pieces are joined with one handle. At first I thought it was a rollermark, but the inside of the back piece has the same patter. I'm beginning to suspect that kevint is correct in that it is meant for paste.

Originally Posted by Samuel

Surprisingly mine is a two piece. But both pieces are joined with one handle. At first I thought it was a rollermark, but the inside of the back piece has the same patter. I'm beginning to suspect that kevint is correct in that it is meant for paste.

If it is two strips of leather then yes Kevin is most likely correct...
Perhaps along the line of Dovo strop pastes. See Amazon for a
vendor description...
"Dovo Strop Paste, Red and Black Two Part Set"
"Product Description
This two part set includes a coarse red paste for dull edges, and finer black paste for polishing. The pastes are to be used on separate strops to avoid compromising the integrity of the grades."

Originally Posted by Samuel

YMMV?

Your Mileage May Vary