Found grandfather's straight razors

[rduke]

Hey all,

I gifted my friend a Dovo SS Inox as a groomsman gift for his first straight. I guess this must have sparked him finding his grandfather's old razors.

1. Henckels Solingen from Germany

2. Premier hand forged in Sheffield England

They don't seem to be overly rare or interesting but it was pretty exciting for us. I think we will try honing them, can post updates if anyone is interested once we get to it.

If anyone knows anything about these blades or coffins please share!

 

[Dimitri]

That's cool that you got your friend interested in wet shaving, and especially into straights. Anytime he uses those straights he will no doubt think of his grandfather and feel like he is connecting with him and touching him. He will cherish those straights for the memory they give him of his grandfather, and his grandfather will no doubt be smiling upon him from above, seeing his grandson trying to connect with him through the use of those razors. That makes those razors priceless.

 

[emwolf]

Any heirloom razor, while it may not be a collector's market find, is worth keeping and cherishing. I have two DEs from my parents, a 55 Tech and a 69 Super, that I will only pass on to my grandson.

 

[House Boy]

This thread reminds me to look at a straight I have from my uncle the barber. This could go back to late 40s, he passed in the sixties, I think I was like 13-14 years old then. I didn't have a lot of facial hair but he did give me a trim and a straight shave which felt pretty good.

 

[rduke]

That's cool that you got your friend interested in wet shaving, and especially into straights. Anytime he uses those straights he will no doubt think of his grandfather and feel like he is connecting with him and touching him. He will cherish those straights for the memory they give him of his grandfather, and his grandfather will no doubt be smiling upon him from above, seeing his grandson trying to connect with him through the use of those razors. That makes those razors priceless.

I fully agree! It's a real goosebumps moment being connected to family in that way and finding a well made heirloom. The condition seems quite good so I'm look forward to honing them

 

[rduke]

Update:

We honed the first razor, the mother of pearl scales, to shave ready today. This was my first vintage blade restoration.

I did not use tape. I started on a 1000 stone using the normal honing method, finding that even after many passes the thing would not cut hair at all.

I moved on to the raising a burr "bevel-setting" method I have heard of on forums and articles. Repeating the same edge moving both directions to raise a burr and then switching to the other side of the edge for a few passes got us to pass the arm hair test.

I then did about 100 normal passes, followed by "stropping off" on the stone. This I would describe as making a C stroke in each direction, forming an algebraic X after each pair of passes. I repeated this strop off each time before moving up a grit level.

Going from 3000 to 8000 to 12000 (naniwa) and 20k (GMN200) I performed the normal honing/stropping off techniques. Each level up increased the ease of the arm hair test. After the 8000 you could really hear it sing. After the 20k it cut hair with no pressure at all. I then sanitized it, polished it with a flitz polishing cloth on the spine and surfaces and then stropped on rough suede and fine suede on the paddle strop. It was then the sharpest razor in the house I believe. Oiled it up and sent it home!

It is a very sharp square tip right now so he will not be using it to shave until he gets more experience on the round tip and/or we blunt the tip a little.

Pics will follow!

 

[TSENG]

For reference.

 

[rduke]

 

[TSENG]

View attachment 1908235

It is recommended that you grind off the 90-degree tip and change the R angle.

 

[rduke]

It is recommended that you grind off the 90-degree tip and change the R angle.

I understand that you mean make it a rounded tip, what does change the R angle mean?

 

[PintoPlain]

It is recommended that you grind off the 90-degree tip and change the R angle.

I have a few Swedes with the 90° tip and haven't rounded them. They make for a great shave and makes it easier under the nose or when edging or shaping sideburns etc. Not for the faint hearted though and it does take some getting used to.

 

[TSENG]

I understand that you mean make it a rounded tip, what does change the R angle mean?

It is recommended that a rounded tip is sufficient.

 

[TSENG]

I have a few Swedes with the 90° tip and haven't rounded them. They make for a great shave and makes it easier under the nose or when edging or shaping sideburns etc. Not for the faint hearted though and it does take some getting used to.

If I use you the way I do, I'll bleed myself.

 

[PintoPlain]

You have to find a grip and method that works for you. There is no way that works for everyone.