My 1st Straight Razor

[TenorClef]

Hi all, here is my first delve into the realm of cut throat razorary for want of a better word and just wanted to ask for any inights advice before i use said item-

(Ebay description)


VINTAGE GERMAN MUSSEL CUT THROAT RAZOR TORTOISESHELL HANDLE

On offer here is a very handsome German cut throat razor. On one side of the blade it says" Finest Razor steel, Forced Real Hollow Ground, in Germany" and on the other "Hand Forged" and presumably the name of the maker "Mussel". There is a lovely handle made out of tortoiseshell on both sides.

It measures 6.5ins long and is in excellent condition.

 

[Luc]

It will need a cleanup and probably honing but nice score!

 

[Bacchus]

Real tortoise scales? nice

 

[TenorClef]

Thanks Luc! I guess any info about the the razor would be appreciated about now. Obviously having just won the auction i can't confirm much about it but assuming the handle is geniune tortosise shell I'd have to assume the single razor is fairly old, obviously German and probably for the export market. Subsequently i've purchased the following-

ENGLISH THICK LEATHER RAZOR STROP FINEST

 

[TenorClef]

Real tortoise scales? nice

I'm assuimg its genuine as that is how it was listed. Clearly it will need a good service.

Where would one take a blade like this to be made servicable?

 

[leighton]

Real tortoise scales? nice

Looks plastic to me.

Real tortoise looks like this:

Its ridiculously thin because the stuff is so expensive.

Either case, it definitely needs a cleanup and a hone to go with the restoration.

 

[TenorClef]

I have a couple of old guitar picks made of toirtoise shell from this chap http://www.art-ecaille.com/turtle-shell-EN/plectrum.htm so i'll make a comparison when the blade arrives. Hard to tell from the photo, could be anything, bakelite, plastic, shell?

Whats the best way to clean up these old razors to make it servicable?

 

[Bacchus]

Ya I see what you mean Leighton, I've seen that picture before but it was a while ago and I haven't seen any other genuine tortoise

 

[FiveOhNine]

I've never seen one made in Germany that didn't say Solingen somewhere on it!

I personally tend to be wary of ebay - but those look like nice pictures, not hazy poor quality ones designed to hide damage or imperfections.

 

[FiveOhNine]

Looks plastic to me.

Real tortoise looks like this:

Its ridiculously thin because the stuff is so expensive.

Either case, it definitely needs a cleanup and a hone to go with the restoration.

That is beautiful! Wish I had one.

Out of curiosity, does the thinness affect the weight/balance at all?