Strop owned by Victor, my grandfather.

Some of my earliest memories as a child growing up in Edinburgh was growing up living in the same house as my grandparents. My grandparents taught me many important lessons in life. All of these lessons I still use every day. As some of you know, my grandfather Victor, alongside my father, taught me how to use a straight razor right from the beginning. But let's go a few years back...

One of my absolute favorite things to do as a child was wait for my grandfather to go to work for the day and I would go into the bathroom, hang on his strop and swing around kicking and laughing. I was caught a few times which usually resulted in the strop being used on my bum. And trust me, the older strops are THICK, and they hurt! But this never stopped me from waiting till the next time I could sneak a swing in.

A few weeks ago, my father gave me the strop. I was floored. It immediately brought back all of those great memories growing up in that house. Swinging on the strop, and being taught how to use a strop on that exact one by my grandfather and father. This was the first time I had seen it in about 15 years. The condition was ok, a little dry, and a few cracks. I knew I wanted to use this every day, so I started the restoration on it.

I started with 220 grit and ended with 2000 grit. After a few applications of neatsfoot oil, it was back in action. It looked exactly as it did when I had seen it last.

I didn't refinish one part of the strop though. On the bottom where you hold it, I noticed 2 things. The leather was worn in the shape of their thumbs by where my grandfather and father had held the strop when they both used it. Grandfather was right handed and father is left handed, you can see the difference on the leather. This, without a doubt made me very happy to see.

Upon the first lap of my razor on the leather, it felt exactly like when I was 13. I must have done 500 laps with the largest smile I have ever had.

Details on the strop are limited. The only part I can read is "The Premier Russian" along with a crest of an eagle. But none of that matters to me. The sentimental value of this makes it priceless. Hopefully one day I can pass this down to any children I may have.

Thanks for your time.

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Boy that would hurt on a backside! Glad to hear you have brought a cherished piece of family history back to working form... I can think of no better way to enjoy an heirloom then using it as it was intended.

Good for you bud, its nice to get to bring a childhood memory back to life and get to use something that reminds you of your grandfather and father.

Treat the old girl right and you will have her for a loooonnnngggg time.

What a wonderful story, and what joy to recieve it as your own now. Great job restoring it, and good call keeping the thumbmarks. Thank you for sharing :tu

That is a great story. If you'd like, you should consider adding it to the "family jewels" thread.

Arbroath,

Thanks for sharing. The thumbprints make it all the more grand!

Cool story, thanks for sharing.

Thanks for sharing! I am lucky enough to have my grandfather's brush and razor, sure wish I had his strop too! :)

Wonderful piece of family history.
....might be best to stick with stropping with it now. I'm not sure it's still up to the swinging part of the story at least not without some decent anchors. ;)

So that bottom thumbprint, the one held with the left hand would be your Grandfathers. I'm predominantly right handed and I pull my strop with my left hand and use my right with the razor.

Correct Vern. That is actually the same spot that I have been using to hold the strop. In a way, gives me another connection to him, even if he has passed on.

Glad you all enjoyed hearing about this. And to Lynn, sorry, I just haven't been using my SRD strop recently. You'll have to take that up with my grandfather ;)

Utopian, thanks! I will definitely share this in that thread.

Without a doubt one of the coolest stories of shaving heirlooms I've ever heard. The thumbprints are really special

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tvldatsi

Without a doubt one of the coolest stories of shaving heirlooms I've ever heard. The thumbprints are really special

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Thank you. It brings a smile to my face every time I have used it. And today, using it on a McPherson Glasgow, Scotland razor finished with a high grit Tam O'Shanter hone, Grandfather Victor would be proud!

Thanks for the story, Arbroath! Heirlooms are to be cherished, that's for sure. I have my great grandfather's Genco and an old beat up strop that belonged to my great-great uncle, and I would never part with either.

Best regards,

Ryan

Only shaving stuff I have is the mug and brush from my great Uncle and the Kriss-Kross safety razor strop from my Grandfather. The Kriss-Kross is kind of a funny machine that you use to strop a single or double edge razor on leather. Merely put the blade into the holder, push the little knob to the furtherst position, and start cranking. By cranking it rotates the leather strop, while putting the blade edge against it for a few revolutions, then it automatically flips over and does the other side and keeps doing that. At first it puts good pressure on the leather, but that lever you moved at the beginning, begins to more up and less and less pressure is put on the blade - strop. Keep it up for as many revolutions as you want and it brings back life to a normally disposable razor blade.