How common are really old razors?

[Blackbeard's Delight]

I currently shave with DE but rest assured, the seed somehow began growing in my brain a month ago to try straight shaving. I haven't picked up any gear yet, but in my brain, it's already snowballing in that direction.

No one disputes that the best shave comes from the straight razor, and it does seem, to me at least, to be the Camelot of shaving. I know I want to get in on the action.

That said, one of the things I've loved about wet shaving is using my old '60s Aristocrat, and the sense of tasting the past with every shave. I started thinking, straight razors have been around long before DE's were invented. Then I imagined shaving with a razor made in the 1800's... that blew my mind. Thinking that some artisan hand crafted this razor, say, 4 years before the Civil War began, or something like that. I started getting tingly just imagining that.

Anyway, I was wondering how common straight razors from the 1800's are... and if anyone has or would shave with one? Or would it be such an expensive and rare antique that museum curators (And B&B members!) would track me down and punch me in my smoothly shaved noggin for using a piece of history like that? I don't know what the protocol and etiquette on that is.

And there is my first post in the straight razor forum. There goes the neighborhood!

 

[Mike H]

Here are a few...
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/119689-Who-s-shaving-with-the-oldest-razor

 

[johnmrson]

There's a great number of razors from the 1800's around. In fact I'd say there are reasonably common. Any razor made post 1891 had to have the country of origin stamped on it so it's easy to spot them. More rare though are those from the 1700's. They are quite rare and hard to come by.

 

[shakin_jake]

No one disputes that the best shave comes from the straight razor, and it does seem, to me at least, to be the Camelot of shaving. I know I want to get in on the action.

~~~I enjoy shaving w/straights enough to forego using any of the DE/SE safeties I've collected since getting into this wet shaving thing. I think for me one of the reasons I shave using straight razors is in a lot of ways, they are easier to use than say a DE safety razor. Yes, more maint. is expected to keep a straight going since you don't use throw away 'disposable' safety razor blades, & instead, care for the blade that makes up what the razor is

If you want to get in on the action all you have to do is buy a straight razor (get a strop too) and have at it. You'll start gathering all of the other things you need when you figure out what they are, like a way or ways to keep the edge sharp and shave ready but your first step is to procure a straight razor

Anyway, I was wondering how common straight razors from the 1800's are... and if anyone has or would shave with one? Or would it be such an expensive and rare antique that museum curators (And B&B members!) would track me down and punch me in my smoothly shaved noggin for using a piece of history like that? I don't know what the protocol and etiquette on that is.

~~~this is my oldest shave ready straight razor-

As john mentioned, since it's country of origin stamp is not there, it's pre 1891. I obtained it winning the bid from an ebay auction. You wont be breaking any rules shaving with a razor of this age. Lots of members here shave with razors of this age and older daily

If you want your first straight razor (& possibly your 1st straight razor shave) to be from the 1800's, they're out there, buy one, have it honed (or learn to hone it yourself) and learn to shave with it. There's nothing complicated going about doing it, and if you get in the weeds, there's plenty of B&B members in these forums that will help you find your way

FWIW, when I won this razor and first recieved it, it needed very little to get it into shave ready condition. I cleaned the metal up a bit, along with the schales, put an edge on it using the coticules you see in this pic and viola!, it was ready to shave. Half the fun for me shaving with vintage razors is finding them and then getting them ready to shave with


Best,


Jake
Reddick Fla.

 

[Legion]

1800's razors are quite common and easy to get hold of. The razor I use every day is mid 1800's, shaves like new, and I think I only paid about $60 for it on BST.

The really old guys, 1700's, are a bit harder to track down. I have about five in my collection, but they don't see much action. Being full wedges they are more of a PITA to hone, and I would be a bit more gutted if I dropped a 200+ year old razor on my bathroom floor.

 

[Blackbeard's Delight]

Wow, blades from the 1700's... I hadn't considered that!! Shaving with something that was around in the century that Ben Franklin was kicking around? The American and French Revolutions? Napoleon? Nice to know it's feasible to acquire something like that, but that I won't be breaking a huge taboo by shaving with it. Are these gems significantly expensive? Or is it more of a "look what I just found at the antique store for $10?" type purchase? I should probably start a stash of beans for this now!

Mike H... that link is like 5 years of centerfolds in one magazine. Wow, I'll be spending some time drooling at that thread!

Good to know the 1800's items are more common too. I figured the 1800's stuff would be very rare, so knowing I can pick up a blade from this era is nice.

Another question: How resilient are old razors in terms of taking rookie abuse? Is it recommended that one learns on a newer razor? I would hate to find some 1800's beauty, then destroy it for all time while learning to hone correctly or something stupid. I'd rather destroy the 10 year old blade no one will miss than a precious piece of history.

 

[syngent]

Its probably easier to find antique straights then vintage ones, since when DEs arrived on the scene in the early 1900 they psuhed out a lot of straight manufacturing not to mantion when the world wars came around the metal became scarce, as well as two of the biggest regions of makers England, and germany took out more then a few Houses

And since straights were not something you bought every year or two they stuck around for some time,... a lot of flea markets, and online auctions make them very easy to find,... but i have no idea when it comes to dating a specific blade i at best will look up or at least try, the years a company was in business to get a range of when it was possible,... then from there try to narrow down a more specific year

 

[Blackbeard's Delight]

Maybe a good way to track down some older kinds would be to get familiar with the name stamps of the really older makers and try looking for them. It would be nice to stumble on a treasure and recognize it by name. I didn't see any blades listed with a date in the title on Ebay. Which is probably good, because sellers would probably jack prices up if they knew they were selling a piece of history like that. Seems that they do post the makers name info right in the title though.

 

[pz93c]

Also, do your research on blade shapes, shoulder, tail, smile, etc.

Old makers have been reground over the years into modern shapes.

Once you get used to it, it's easy to scroll and scan the pictures on Fleabay.

 

[Blackbeard's Delight]

Also, do your research on blade shapes, shoulder, tail, smile, etc.

Old makers have been reground over the years into modern shapes.

Once you get used to it, it's easy to scroll and scan the pictures on Fleabay.

Are there certain blade shapes I should look for or be sure to avoid? I would have gone for a more squared off blade thinking that I could trim around sideburns and such easier, though maybe having a crazy sharp point on there may lead to too many rookie vein tappings. I hadn't thought of that.

 

[mdunn]

honestly - just pick the one you like the look of. sure, you will probably nick yourself with the end once or twice (certainly its more likely than with a round point). But if youre being careful its no problem

 

[Anonymous]

Wow, blades from the 1700's... I hadn't considered that!! Shaving with something that was around in the century that Ben Franklin was kicking around? The American and French Revolutions? Napoleon?

Since you mentioned Napoleon, I though this might be appropriate: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...would-have-had-BBS-Shaves!?highlight=Napoleon

 

[Legion]

Since you mentioned Napoleon, I though this might be appropriate: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...would-have-had-BBS-Shaves!?highlight=Napoleon

Nah, this was Napoleons razor. Or maybe his fathers

 

[Blackbeard's Delight]

Wow, that's pretty amazing. It's incredible that we can pick up one of these razors, hundreds of years after they were made, and use them as they were intended. I am very happy to learn it's not taboo to clean these old guys up and shave with them. I think I've seen too many episodes of Antiques Roadshow on PBS where they always poopoo on people for cleaning up antiques.

Also I have been very impressed with the variety of designs... it seems every one is so unique looking, all very elegant and artfully designed. Looking at the long threads with pics of all the different razors is so hypnotic!

 

[Legion]

Wow, that's pretty amazing. It's incredible that we can pick up one of these razors, hundreds of years after they were made, and use them as they were intended. I am very happy to learn it's not taboo to clean these old guys up and shave with them. I think I've seen too many episodes of Antiques Roadshow on PBS where they always poopoo on people for cleaning up antiques.

Also I have been very impressed with the variety of designs... it seems every one is so unique looking, all very elegant and artfully designed. Looking at the long threads with pics of all the different razors is so hypnotic!

Well, taboo is really a matter of opinion. The razor I pictured above, for instance, I have decided not to restore and use. To me it's value is more as a collectable antique, and less as a functional razor. I don't want to put any more wear on the blade, or remove the patina (which is what's protected the steel for the last ~250 years). Other guys around here will think that is dumb, but I have a museum background, and to me that razor is just too old to mess with.

But a 150 year old razor? Sure, restore and use all you want. There are enough of them out there for us all.

 

[Blackbeard's Delight]

Well I have been reading on everything I can find about straight razor shaving, maintenance and restoration. I think I am confident enough with my knowledge to say that I would be getting in way over my head if I attempted to find a really old razor and try to get it shave-worthy! Seems like a consensus would be to find a good starter setup and learn to ropes first. I just don't have the eye for the details yet... some of the restore pics I saw with close-ups of the edge of the blade being honed, and comments of before and after and I couldn't tell the difference.

As much as I would love to find some sweet antique razor and shave with it, I would feel awful if I trashed the thing trying my rookie hand at restoring it.

I guess it's a case of "the more you know, the more you realize how much you don't know!" Thanks to all for the links ant tips!

 

[Legion]

For your first razor get it already made shave ready by an experienced member. That way, if you have any issues with the shave you can be reasonably confident it is your technique rather than the razor. Just practice shaving and keeping the blade maintained at first. Then maybe get hold of a couple of cheapies to try your hand at restoration and honing before moving on to more valuable razors.