3" Bridle strop - hard as a board and slick

I recently purchased a 3" bridle replacement piece from a respectable online retailer to try it out. When it came in I was kind of disappointed because it is very stiff and slick. It does not strop well at all right out of the package. I'm going to try to oil it and soften it up.

Compared to my latigo which is very supple and very flexible, this bridle is hardly usable. Do they normally come like this and need breaking in? From the posts I have seen on the material it seems to come ready to use.

Who has ordered the bridle material or strop and were able to use it right away? Who has had success in oiling the bridle and breaking it in?

I'd suggest you contact the vendor. I know that if you use neatsfoot it will increase the draw. A lot of neatsfoot will increase it beyond anything I'd want. YMMV. OTOH, I've never had a bridle leather so I don't know if it is supposed to be stiff or supple. The vendor could probably tell you for sure. Slick in a new strop, particularly horsehide is normal IME.

I use 3" bridle strop from fendrihan and I'd say it's fairly stiff. Bridle is a tougher leather from what I've read and lasts a good while. I've seen the flexability in a cordivan or latigo and bridle's not on par.

I used mine right away after running my hand up and down it a few times - still only use my hand, and I get fine stroppings out of it.

I have a go-to Eng Bridle from SRD and it is fairly soft and supple. Bridle leather needs to be soft by nature so that halters and harnesses won't chafe the animal it is connected to.

I also bought two strips of 3" bridle from a leather shop in Maine. That leather is identical in looks and feel to the SRD strop.

Send your strop back to the vendor if you are not satisfied with it.

Jerry

All I have ever really used is a 3 inch English bridle leather strop so don't really have anything to compare it to. I would say it is a fairly thick piece of leather and yes it has a slick surface with little draw. You can increase the draw by rubbing your palm over it but that lasts about 10 strokes on mine. Seems to work though.

Bob

I'm going to try the neatsfoot oil and see what happens. It looks nice other than stiff. After looking at it just now it seems "dry" is a better word to describe it. I'll see what the oil does to loosen it up a bit.

The neatsfoot oil did the trick. It's not as supple as the latigo but it is so much better than before. I'm going to lay down a couple more thin coats of oil over the next couple weeks and I only see it getting better. It's really getting a nice draw now!

There are a number of different types of bridle, but all are fairly firm.

The cheaper bridles are horrible - like a bit of hardboard. Some have had so much wax applied (all bridle leather is treated with oils and waxes of varying proportions) that the leather is virtually waterproof and as slick as you like - the razor just glances off it.

In fact I have had one example where you could put your finger on the surface of the strop and push it along - a sheet of wax was pushed up in front of it, like a mini snow plough!

If in doubt about the sort of bridle used, its best to ask first. Same goes for latigo - that can be as oily as a very oily thing or as stiff as a board, too.

Regards,
Neil

I use Lexol leather conditioner, I've used in on my latigo and bridle strop and works good. My bridle was stiff when I got it to, it loosens up with use.

Lexol is great stuff. I use it on all my leather goods including car seats and jackets.