Vintage Swiss Allegro Paddle Strop

Vintage Swiss Allegro Paddle Strop

This is a nice high-class, vintage Allegro Flexible Paddle Strop, made in Lucerne, Switzerland with great attention to finish and detail - it is one of the nicest made paddle strops I have seen.  It has what Allegro call a 'stone' on one side (some people think it is wood - it isn't!) that is really more like one of the very thin hones from a rolls razor strop, but made from a much more flexible and plastic-feeling substance.  Allegro recommend that the razor receives 4 - 5 strokes on the 'hone' about three times a week, varying accoding to beard stiffness.  The instructions (not included - I found them on a website) say to finish with 8 - 10 strokes on the leather every time before shaving.

The other side is a very fine-grained leather pulled taut (it still has a little 'give' in it like a hanging strop) by metal fasteners over a pad of soft felt-like substance, the whole being attached to a thin wooden panel.  If the screws on the hone side are undone a little the tabbed washers can be moved upwards and the hone removed - for lapping or removing nicks (it is soft enough for a razor to nick it!), completely undo the screws and the leather panel can be removed.

Each panel measures approx. 8 and 1/4 inches by 1 and 7/8th inches (210mm x 35mm).  The hone is in exceptionally good condition with just small light marks (the little dark patches on either side of one screw hole are where the black and gold Allegro name once was) and the leather panel is in very good condition with just light signs of wear and one tiny mark near the end (see the close-up photo) that is of little consequence.

The handle and the body of the strop still have a high degree of the original finish - just small paint chips here and there and some wearing through the finish on some edges.  The box is in average condition - one end is taped in place, with scuffs and wear along the edges.  The Allegro name is just visible on it and it makes a good resting place for the razor.  All-in-all, this is a delightfully well-made travel paddle strop with a high pedigree.

Packaged weight will be around 500gms.