Thread: Vintage paddle strop/coticule resto?

Very nice stone! I have a somewhat similar setup (antique handmade wooden razor box, russian shell paddle strop and what looks like a blue/green Escher stone). On mine, the leather is shot as well.

Although both the coticule and Thuringians are waterstones, since both can also be used dry for polishing, my guess is that his coticule was intended on being used dry.

Chris L

No, I've used it wet, just enough water to make the difference but not even enough to get sloshed up onto the blade as I make a pass. You really don't need that much, natural stones don't soak up water so a few drops is all you need. But I also use it dry fwiw.

And the leather is actually not ruined, it works perfectly well for stropping knives that are a little more tolerant toward imperfections in the stropping surface. But for razors it's no good.

I have other stones and strops that I prefer and don't really need to have such a combination in tip top shape for my shaving needs, but I think it'd look cool and might serve someone else well down the road.

Oh, Ken, do you recreate the padded leather effect or just mount the leather flat on the paddle like the finish side?