Thread: Illinois strop #32. Know anything about it?

Hello gents! I bought this a while ago at an antique shop for $15. I figured I would use it as a entry into 'restoring' a strop. It was in decent condition already so it spruced up nicely. I can't find my information about it. It says 'hone on this side' on the 'brown' side but the 'black' strop behind that doesn't seem to be all that more abrasive.

So, my questions:

1. Does anybody know when model/size #32 was manufactured?
2. What is the reputation of this company?
3. What is the material of the black side? Is it meant to be a more abrasive side, like a canvas strop?

Thanks!

Nice score. Illinois is a very reputable strop maker and is still in business today. I'm certainly not a strop historian but the material component is likely canvas or linen. The "hone on this side" makes me wonder if it was impregnated with sharpening paste - if so use it sparingly. Have fun, that strop looks like it has many more years of life left.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

Nice score. Illinois is a very reputable strop maker and is still in business today. I'm certainly not a strop historian but the material component is likely canvas or linen.

Thank you for your answer! Both parts are leather, actually. I should have been a bit more specific, I apologize. The black seems stiffer, but I don't know if that's by design or merely neglect. I found it interesting both were leather and so I assumed that one side was meant to hold an abrasive although neither showed any evidence of it. But, then, all of my strops have a canvas side instead of an abrasive, so I'm not experienced there.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

The "hone on this side" makes me wonder if it was impregnated with sharpening paste - if so use it sparingly. Have fun, that strop looks like it has many more years of life left.

See, I agree with that sentiment except between the two the brown one that says 'hone on this side' is smoother. Plus, and this might be a little silly, but from a usability standpoint, I feel that the handle with the writing is the 'front' of the strop and I find it weird that the front is the side with more abrasive surface while the 'back' is the side meant for stropping.

It's a slight conundrum, for me.

If I were a bettin' man, I'd bet that one side is to be used with paste while the other side is for straight stropping. I have an Illinois strop, but it's linen and leather. Hope this helps.

They made the similar strop for many years and changed the number, I think, every time they got a new supplier. I have a 3462 if I remember correct with a bit of fancier hardware. The red side was jewelers rouge and the black was a fine emery. Dovo, among others has those pastes:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...rop-paste.html
~Richard