NOS Dubl Duck “Man-O-War” Straight Razor Strop — Pearl Duck — Van-O-War Shell Finish — Unused Vintage Stock
Offered here is a genuine New Old Stock Dubl Duck “Man-O-War” straight razor strop, complete with its original leather and compound-impregnated Irish linen components. This is an authentic unused vintage strop that came from old unsold store inventory and has never had a razor stropped on its leather or linen surfaces.
The strop carries the familiar Dubl Duck / Man-O-War / Shell Finish markings at the upper portion of the leather, together with the large PEARL DUCK RAZOR STROPS branding toward the lower end. The original hardware remains in place.
NEW OLD STOCK — UNUSED, BUT NOT MINT
It is important to distinguish unused condition from perfect storage condition with this piece.
Although this strop has never been used, it spent many years stored under less-than-ideal conditions before coming into my possession. Consequently, the leather exhibits cosmetic storage blemishes and variations in appearance. These are visual issues rather than cuts or structural failures.
Most importantly, the leather itself remains alive, flexible and supple. There are no cuts, nicks, gouges or other working-surface damage from a razor because a razor has simply never been used on it.
The accompanying Irish compound-impregnated linen remains in particularly nice condition. There are two areas displaying slight waves from long-term storage. These are not tears or deterioration, and in my opinion they could be substantially flattened simply by laying the linen flat under appropriate weight for a period of time. I have chosen not to aggressively alter an otherwise original NOS component merely for cosmetic purposes.
I obtained this strop through a private purchase of old unsold inventory originating from a closed Chicago-area store, along with a number of other items. I was told the inventory came from a store that had closed; I believe it was a barber-supply establishment, although I cannot independently verify the exact type of store and therefore do not represent that portion of its history as certain.
I am the first private owner/user of this particular strop following its removal from that old inventory, and during my ownership it has remained hanging with the other New Old Stock pieces in my collection. I have never put a razor to it—not once.
To preserve the leather during my ownership, I have occasionally applied a very small amount of tallow to the back/flesh side of the leather, generally annually or semi-annually as needed. I deliberately avoided treating the finished front stropping surface so that the original unused working face would remain as untouched as reasonably possible.
I also received the strop with its original printed plastic sleeve bearing the period branding and advertising. At the moment I have managed to put that sleeve somewhere extremely safe—apparently safe enough that I am still trying to find it. If located, the original sleeve will be included with the strop. Unless specifically confirmed before purchase, however, buyers should consider the sale to be for the strop itself rather than assume the sleeve is included.
This is the sort of piece that occupies an interesting middle ground for the collector: genuinely unused New Old Stock without being artificially represented as mint. Its years in storage are visible, but the important working materials remain sound and unused. For a Dubl Duck collector, traditional barbering collector, or someone assembling examples of historic American straight-razor equipment, that makes it considerably more interesting than an ordinary previously used vintage strop.
Condition: New Old Stock / never used. Storage-related cosmetic blemishes are present and plainly disclosed. Leather remains supple with no razor cuts, nicks or gouges to the stropping surface. Original impregnated linen remains very nice with two small areas of storage-related waviness. Please examine all photographs carefully, as they are considered part of the description.
Thank you and God bless.
Being the first one to ever draw a razor across a nearly 100 year-old Razor Strop, is priceless.
I’ve enjoyed this pleasure many times, and it never gets old, or less exciting.
In the world of straight razors, strops, and stones. We rarely get to use anything from the golden days for the very first time.
And our available supply of vintage/antique strops is getting smaller and smaller by the day. Not from purchases, but the fact that Leather is fallible, and does decompose over time like most hides.
They are discarded as old smelly belts or just another rancid piece of leather bound for the dump.
So when the opportunity to be the first owner/user of a piece of Barbering/Shaving history presents itself….. it should not be waisted or ignored.
If the item is In good shape as it was new,
Means you will have more years of future use, and enjoyment than we are even scheduled for.
It’s not a monetary investment, it’s a historical Investment.
Having a direct connection to the past, as well as fulfy your Razor-Civic-Duty by doing your part in saving these beautiful works of art and craftsmanship from rotting away.
Supporting your local artesian is admirable, but owning a piece of history that is no longer readily available is a different kind of admirable appreciation for the craftsmen that helped build what we are trying to save and enjoy.
So if a simple piece of leather for rubbing steel is what you are after, then strops of this prestige are not for you.
But if you are dedicated to the barbering/straight edge razor scene that was alive then, and still alive today.
Then maybe this strop or one similar is for you.
It’s more than a strip off a horse butt.
It’s a Statement, showing your level of appreciation, dedication, respect, and commitment to,,,,,,
SAVING RAZOR HISTORY.
Semper~Fidelis.
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