Thread: Koken strop help

I received a Koken strop for Christmas this year (family was visiting and opened some gifts early). The front is Imported "Scotch" Shell Natural Finish and is in good shape, except for a decent gash on the lower right edge. The back side is lighter in color and flawless.

The strap in the back is not linen but appears to be a thicker leather with lots of small, patterned dimples. Once side is blue and the other is black, but the texture is different on each side; with the blue one feeling smoother and the dimples seem smaller relative to the black side. This back strap only says Hone Strop.

Is anyone familiar with these strops (or the use of the dimpled 'leather')? So far the google, forum and library search have not done much to expand my limited knowledge of this kind of strop.

Cheers~

If I am not mistaken the colored strops are for touch ups. The smoother one is for minor touch ups just to maintain the blade and the courser one is to be used when the blade needs a bit more of a touch up. The colors can be deceiving though because not all companies make the same color the same grit. Some of the more experienced guys can better answer that question for you.

yea the second strop is for touchups. It may have some abrasive on it or it may not. A close inspection will tell that and what the grit might be or might have been.

nice strop i have a simile one for my 1910 Chair.

Cool strop. I have the same strop except with a standard linen as the second component. It is one of my all time favorite strops.

Keith from HandAmerican made some of those with a leather second component and the pattern cut/embossed into the leather. He told me once that he prefers that to fabric second components. If the razor is pulling or if it is a full wedge, like an old Sheffield , hit it a few licks on the second component and then strop on the regular component. I'm not saying that works, just what I was told. YMMV.

Thank you for the replies. Pretty much what I expected, but I appreciate the reassurance and of course every piece of information can be helpful. The blue side of the rear component (which is inside- lays against the leather component) definitely feels smoother and has a bit of a sparkle to it. The black side has definitely been used a bit more, but still is in good shape. Do they touch up as is (the perforations do some work, etc) or should the sides be treated with a paste/powder, etc?

Blue side: Attachment 115228

Black side (looks blue with the flash):Attachment 115229