ScalpmasterBarber Strop 23.5" Long and 2.2" Wide Horse Hide BB-BS1

I have seen one thing after another on here about Razor Strop's. I sure have not seen very much in this bunch about what makes a good or a great STROP.First off we have to have two parts to the Strop. The first one you use each and every time you shave is the Canvas or cloth or in this particular strop it is a mixture of synthetic Materials that you can use to heat your straight Razor or chisel plane knife blade against. This is the first thing you see a good barber doing when he starts getting ready to shave your shorthairs. You need to flip it a good fifteen or twenty times against the cloth first one side then the other. a down and back is considered one stroke. Now after this has been done you will switch over to the leather side of the strop. Now you should have begun your break in on the strop at least 24 hrs before. by slathering an oil like substance on the harder of the two surfaces of the leather. That side is also smoother and normally shine and maybe even darker that the back side. That was the outside of the cow or horse or goat or the neighbors cat. what ever you have made you leather out of. Many times you can also tell as it will have some scratches on it where the horse rubbed up against the fence and cut the hide a bit. Yes their are many times that the hide looks fairly bad to start with. Still that is fine as you have already made it much more pliable,flexible, and forgiving by putting the strop dressing on that side of the hide. I use two differing products. One is old Gents a liquid and then there is Frommes which is more of a creame type. I cut up old squares of T shirt or use gun patches out of cotton 3x3 hey some of this cotton is so old my grandfather must a picked it before the war between the states. Hey some of My hand me down T shirts are so old the don't even have anything printed on them but the label and it says JC Pennys on it. So rubbing in circles slather just like that word slather, on the outside of the hide and then let it dry over night. Then after warming the blade you stroke the blade up and down the strop with a light pressure on it and this will help the metal flow down from the high spots to fill in the low grooves the hair from you beard or head leaves in the blade while you cut the hair and skin and blood from your body.Now any more questions Go look it up or you could just dig up my granddad and ask him course he has been down there a day or two. So no Guarantee's.drayps I did buy several so I just might post this fufty or one hundred times

I first ordered one of these strops becuase it was the perfect size, and horsehide, and a really low price. Then I read all of the negative reports, and had my doubts, but for the price thought that I would find out for myself. The truth is I ordered two of them becuase of the low price, and to save on shipping, and the extra 9 bucks for a practice trap was nothing. Then I also purchased a couple of two dollar and six dollar practive razors just to have something to break the new strops in with. ( two of those cheap practice razors also ended up being quite good also)Anyway the two new strops arrived, and I was really surprized aty how good they were. The most important part, the horsehide leather, was real good.The fasteners were just a bit weak, but useable, and those can so eaily be changed out with new stuff easily acquired from the local hardwear suppier for a couple of bucks. Again the most important part is the leather, and both strops has quite good leather, thich wide and quite smooth, and actually not too hard, but remember these are new not broken in strops.Perhap the nylon back piece is not what you want, but it can be removed and the back side of the horsehide strop can have some jewelers rouge applied. Anyway it may prove to be fine I just am not use to it, and will have to find out. I do know the leather will work out just fine, and I do know the back side with treatment does the same thing as a second strop.Come on guys this strop is really fantastic for the price. It is a good piece of leather, and a really nice size. Sure a person can go ahead and pay $60 or $80 dollars for something a bit better, but you are not going to beat this strap for less than forty bucks. This will be a real strop instead of a downsized get by with strop, and horsehide will end up so much better than cowhide.I have sharpened knives and razors for forty plus years. Even today I touched up a sloppy shave with my pocket knife on my neck, dry, and without burning my face. I know sharpening, and these strops are fine. They and will break-in and up being great. A person can buy one of those five dollar cheap razors, and break-n this strop and have something really good that could last a lifetime. I think all of you over critical people who have bad mouthed this bargain strop need to rethink your opinion. Both of the ones I got were well worth the price.It is an excellent piece of leather that is worth more than twice the price for just that perfect piece of horsehide which is plenty wide, and long enough too.

I was scared to use a low cost strop...when I got it I put some drops of neat foots oil on it and went across it with a coffie mug to work it in. When I stroped I used the white fabric side first which sounds a little harsh when going across it with your blade but works great. Then I went on to the horse hide side. The sound of the blade going across the blade sounds like a very high quality strop and even feels like one. Once you work in the leather it's works amazing trust me.. just add the oil. Also you will probley see some brown resadue come off at first. Not sure what that is. Can't go wrong with this price!!

price is right for my first one just started using a strait razor

Good quality

Great product.

works great