Thread: Can anyone identify this vintage strop?

First of all, I am new to the world of straight shaving. Can anyone tell me anything about this vintage strop? It is 24" long and 2 1/2" wide. It says Illinois 9267. I can't find any information about what those numbers mean. I couldn't get the best pictures, but there is some pitting at the top and a little along the sides. Other than that the leather is supple. It seems to twist to the left, but I have had it hanging for about a month and the twist seems to be coming out. Is this safe to use? It has been in an abandoned house for at least 10 years. Any information would be great! Thanks!

It is a high quality .... based on it being marked 'shell' of the size pro barbers used way back when. If it is not badly nicked up, cracked, creased in the stropping area , it should certainly be good to use. I have quite a few vintage strops and they are all good .... as long as they are in good condition. Illinois is still making strops. That number is the model # and they probably aren't making that particular model nowadays.

I have had success twice with a suggestion from TheBigSpendur about shell strops with set folds. Soak it with warm water and let it hand dry slowly. After I spread about three drops of oil on palms and wiped it out thinly the applied it to the backside of the strop. Strops took their proper shape and are now both in use.

Thankyou TBS

Originally Posted by jaswarb

I have had success twice with a suggestion from TheBigSpendur about shell strops with set folds. Soak it with warm water and let it hand dry slowly. After I spread about three drops of oil on palms and wiped it out thinly the applied it to the backside of the strop. Strops took their proper shape and are now both in use.

Thankyou TBS

Just a couple of questions for clarification: When you say "hand dry" does that mean that I should pat it dry with a cloth or just air dry it? Secondly, Why type of oil do you use?
Thanks!

It just means let it air dry slowly. As to oil any good conditioner will do. neatsfoot,Bick,lexol,Fromm and a bunch of others.

Just keep in mind the water maneuver is considered the nuclear option when all other methods fail. Water and leather usually don't go well together and usually you will be left with discoloration and cosmetic issues.

How would you hold a strop like that taught, with nothing on the end to hang onto?

Originally Posted by Firefighter2

How would you hold a strop like that taught, with nothing on the end to hang onto?

Back in the old days alol of the strops were squared off for pro strops. The ones with handles were for the house. Generally shorter. Just grab the end and go.

I took this strop to an old timey barber last week and he said my strop was too stiff and that I should apply some lather to it. This he said would make it more supple. Has anyone heard of using a leather strop with lather on it? This old barber had a strop that looked like leather had been caked on it for years...

Yes, it's common for old-time barbers to apply lather to a strop if they think it's drying out. They also used their stop a lot. Neatsfoot oil is better in my opinion, but lather is less risky - one can apply too much oil. Most people on this site recommend rubbing your hand on the surface of the strop before use every day and nothing else. I have an old shell strop that I regularly use, and I applied some leather conditioner that uses neatsfoot oil when I reconditioned it. I think, if the leather is dried out, this is the way to go, but this is just my opinion.

If it is mine I would do the following, get some saddle soap, put a little bit in a container, add a bit of water and mix it up, take a clean cloth rag wipe the strop down a few times and see how the strop deals with that first. If it shows signs of cleaning, then continue a few more times. Then let it dry and put a few drops of neats foot into,the palm of your hand, now rub your hands together to spread it around and start rubbing into the strop. Let it dry, then after a day or so check it, if it needs more, repeat.