Thread: NOS Strop with Russian Tannage

I picked up a NOS strop in great condition. The top layer shows "Guaranteed - Genuine Russian Tannage." The bottom of the strop shows "996A - Genuine Imported Petrogrod XXX Primes - Made in U.S.A." The back of the leather is the tradition red backing. It has a poly linen with a tight weave. The leather is still supple and thick.

Does anybody have any information for this strop?

I can't tell you much about the history of this strop. I can only say that you purchased what appears to be a very nice NOS strop.

Is the diamond pattern on the back of the top leather strop, or is it on a separate leather component? Keith DeGrau of HandAmerican used to make strops with a diamond embossed strop of leather as a replacement for a linen or fabric component. It could very well be that this strop was designed with the following stropping progression in mind: linen -> diamond embossed leather -> Russian leather. From what I have gathered, Russian leather simply means that the rougher bottom layer of the leather, and not the top smooth skin layer of the leather, is used for stropping.

Let us know how you like it.

The embossing is on the back of the leather. It almost looks like they laid down a thin material and then embossed it.

Some of the nomenclature and numbers + the wreath remind me of the Certifyd strop company but they usually had 'Certifyd' printed on there somewhere. They made a Russian strop as well as the Red Imp, Scotch Lassie among others. Looks like a nice strop whoever made it.

The strop even came with an old price tag - $7.25. It is a good size strop, about 2 1/2" wide and 23" long.

Pretty much the default size for pro barber strops in the heyday. That cross hatch effect on the back side is what I think is meant by 'Russian Tannage' regardless of where the leather came from. I believe that is the case and I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

Jimmy, "Russian Tannage" is a traditional method of tanning leather in Russia. Looks like a nice strop.

Unless you meet a strop collector who really knows his strops getting an ID on that will be very difficult. Mainly, back in the day the outfits who made strops made them for a variety of razor makers and hardware stores and other retailers and they were decorated as a customization.

It looks like a very nice strop.

Originally Posted by jerrybyers

The embossing is on the back of the leather. It almost looks like they laid down a thin material and then embossed it.

I think you'll find the thin material may actually the top grain of the hide. IIRC, unlike other strops the flesh side is the stropping side but it is worked into a super smooth state.

Cochineal is the dye used to achieve the red colouring in "Russian" strops

Originally Posted by onimaru55

I think you'll find the thin material may actually the top grain of the hide. IIRC, unlike other strops the flesh side is the stropping side but it is worked into a super smooth state.

I think you may be unto something there. I'm going to take another look and post a close-up photo.