Broke in my latest find with a shave with a 90 or so year old blade

[CGW409]

Broke in my 15.00 cased find last night and decided to do it in style with one of the wrapped blades.
If I understand my blade date codes an 847 date code is a blade manufactured in the 47th week of 1918 and while I was a little concerned (kept the blade in my franken Tech just in case)I got one of the smoothest,comfortable BBS shaves I've ever had.
I have to half wonder what a early 20th century NOS Gillette blade has to be worth and just how "expensive" my next couple of shaves are going to be.

 

[rebos]

Interesting. I mostly hear that blades are generally better today, though I couldn't relay the reasons why --I don't think I've encountered the reasons.

This is great testimony that a 90+ year old blade can do the job with the best of today's blades. I'm fascinated by the fact the blade didn't get dull over time through old age, as it were.

 

[bakerbarber]

Interesting.

I suppose if it never got damp and didn't get knocked about it would be reasonably close to the condition it was when wrapped.

Those are the type of blades that truly can be honed and sharpened. Carbon blades. Find an old fashion stropper or strop handle that holds the blade the right way.

 

[ras120]

You really got a good shave with that blade? I did an "original shave" a few years back with my Double Ring and one of those three-hole oldies and I can still feel the pulling.

 

[CGW409]

Interesting.

I suppose if it never got damp and didn't get knocked about it would be reasonably close to the condition it was when wrapped.

Those are the type of blades that truly can be honed and sharpened. Carbon blades. Find an old fashion stropper or strop handle that holds the blade the right way.

Two of the blades were wrapped the other three were unwrapped but with bits of the wrap kind of welded to the blade so I figure the others had their wraps dry rot away and they were dull as anything most likely from years of the edges bumping against the sides of the blade bank.
I don't know where this razor came from but during my clean up I picked the bank and figured I had a load of rusty newer vintage DE blades my jaw had to just about hit the floor when I dumped the contents out to find five original blades with nary a spot of rust.
I'm pretty sure I think I've found a use for Great Grandpa's depression era blade honer.

 

[IronHammer]

Fascinating. I have a big pile of those old carbon steel blades. I have been keeping them around for a time when I can sit around and hone them with the little concave honing stone I found. Since they are carbon steel, I would thinking they should sharpen right up so long as there is no rust on the edges.

 

[CGW409]

Two shaves and done for the old timer(at least until I give him a facelift on the honer)but considering I've had several shaves with some late 40's vintage Dot blades and several with some late 60's/early 70's vintage Gillette blades that only last one full shave and have to be swapped out after pass 1 on the second day(what can I say my beard eats vintage carbon and surgical steel blades like candy)going the distance for two full shaves wasn't bad for a blade that's nearly a century old.