Types of strop leather question

[Cobre]

Hi guys,

Can someone help me understand what the different types of strop leather are? I keep reading about Latigo, Steerhide, Cordovan, Cangaroo, English Briddle, etc...

I have searched tons, both on Google and here but cannot find much about the characteristics of each leather.

Thanks!​

 

[buca3152]

I have a bridle and latigo. They feel different when you strop but the blade seems to shave the same. I wish I coukd tell you more but thats the only observation I have. I thought about kangaroo a while ago, but didnt get past the idea that it won't make any real difference. SRD has strops that you can change the components, different leather, felt etc. This way you can order what you want and change it up if you choose to. They arent cheap but I think they are a good value. Star shaving has some reasonably priced strops. I have the big daddy bridle leather. Works great.

 

[Kentos]

The only difference is in the feel of the razor over the leather.

Some leather like latigo and bridle tend to be thicker than cordovan and roo too. For the most part all will strop up a razor well, so most of the cost of a strop is in the cosmetic quality of the leather and the the degree of workmanship invested in the manufacture of the strop.

 

[Redhead]

To me the type of leather is not as important as how the strop performs. To me the best kind of strop has very little draw(slick) yet is soft enough (supple) to suck the edge and keep it adhered ever so lightly even with light pressure.This kind of strop can give you the finest edge.

 

[rickboone1]

The only one that matters is horse. Get horse. Or steer. Or kangaroo.

 

[tomjr]

i like horse.

 

[Cobre]

Thanks for the input guys,

So just to confirm this is my understanding of the characteristics of the various type of leathers used for strops:

Latigo, cow hide, with a smooth finish, little draw
Steerhide, cow hide more oily feel to it, more draw
Cordovan, horse hide, smooth finish and little draw
Cangaroo, thin leather, medium draw
English Briddle, cow hide, medium draw, has an oily finish

This are just my thoughts, please feel free to correct me.

 

[Gamma]

Horse is good.

How the leather is prepared, surface/tanning/etc - has a lot to do with it.
Cordovan and Latigo are many worlds apart IMO.
I wouldn't say the Latigo has 'little' draw at all. Not the one I have anyway.

Don't forget buffalo. The one I owned had a gentle pebble surface, mid-draw, thick - lovely stuff to strop on.

 

[Cobre]

Don't forget buffalo. The one I owned had a gentle pebble surface, mid-draw, thick - lovely stuff to strop on.

Right, I haev seen those strops as well, just forgot to include them in the list of leathers, thanks Keith.

 

[Kentos]

Your take on the leathers might be if you buy from, maybe, SRD. If you bought/buy from Tony Miller:

Latigo is smooth and has a lot of draw
Horsehide is smooth with a brushed finish and has zippy draw
Bridle is smooth with medium light draw
Steerhide is smooth with a brushed finish with light draw

Kanayama Cordovan is light draw but has a raspy feel.

Never tried Roo.

So even different leathers differ from maker to maker

 

[Cobre]

Your take on the leathers might be if you buy from, maybe, SRD. If you bought/buy from Tony Miller:

Latigo is smooth and has a lot of draw
Horsehide is smooth with a brushed finish and has zippy draw
Bridle is smooth with medium light draw
Steerhide is smooth with a brushed finish with light draw

Kanayama Cordovan is light draw but has a raspy feel.

Never tried Roo.

So even different leathers differ from maker to maker

Good input Kent, thanks!

 

[dpetrzelka]

The tanning process has an effect on the draw of a strop as well. Vegetable tanning with tannins vs chrome tanning. Many prefer to use a vegetable tanned leather for use around metals - holsters, sheaths, and in many cases strops, as the chromium salts still present Chrome tanned leather can contribute to metal corrosion in carbon steel.

A dry, natural, vegetable tanned leather will, in most cases, have a light fast draw.
We often use the term "oil tanned" for leathers like latigo, but its actually oil and/or wax treated. This will genrally have a heavier drawn as the pores of the leather are filled with oil/wax. Subsequently these oil treated leathers are more pliable, but also more stable - they don't have the same memory that a vegetable tanned leather will have.

A middle ground lies in oiling a vegetable tanned leather - hand applying neatsfoot will increase the draw, but will still be less than a true latigo.

Many flavors to suit your stropping style.

 

[Thomas Martin]

Cordovan is a very rare leather that comes from a small area (the crops) of a special kind of horse. Cordovan is mainly used for shoes since it is very durable yet soft. It has a subtle silky shine, does not crease the way calf does and gets a great patina over time (I own five pairs and it's simply the best leather on the planet to walk in).