My first straight

[cwf71]

Visiting family this past weekend and, lo and behold, my father decided to give me my great-grandfather's straight. My great grandfather died in 1961 (my grand dad shaved exclusively with a DE razor) so it has not been used since. Pics below. Appears to my untrained eye to be in relatively good shape. It opens & closes smoothly and centered in the scales, is not loose in the pivot joint/pin, some patina and only one small spot of rust near the head toward the spine (not near the edge). Some initial thoughts are:

1. Possible (probable?) that the razor and box are mismatched.
2. Anyone know anything about the manufacturer? (Wm ELLIOT & Co on the tang)
3. Do more seasoned folks see anything in the condition that I missed/got wrong?
4. Seriously thinking of getting it honed up and starting my straight shaving journey. All thoughts appreciated...

 

[tezza]

If that's your GGF's razor then you owe it to yourself to clean it, hone it, and get shaving with it. It looks like a nice razor. Retailers/suppliers often put their own name on the razors they sell, though they don't manufacture those razors themselves. Their razors are made by manufacturers who make razors for different brands as well as own brand. Looks like the box is a mismatch. I just googled Wm Elliot & Co. He was an importer/supplier operating in the 1880s. Adolph Strauss and Company was an import agency in NY. who took over Wm.Elliot & Co. in 1907 and used the trademark till 1918. Get you razor honed and start enjoying it. It will be fun, and you'll feel a lot closer to your GGF. If you haven't used a straight before, I'd tame that square point to minimize the potential of doing unintentional damage. How true is the color of your photo? The scales have an ivory-like grain but they're too dark. Maybe bakelite or wood?

 

[cwf71]

tezza: Thanks for the feedback! Was a little late when I posted and had just gotten off the road, but taking your cue I just Googled the mfg and did a forum search... Cool getting more historical info. Knowing my GGF age and being told it was the only razor he ever owned or used, I kind of figured that the manufacture date should be somewhere in the late 19th century. Given the family history, I am loathe to modify the point. Little bit of a tough call for me... The photo color is pretty true, maybe a little dark. Just a guess, but they may be celluloid?

 

[Raithskar]

This is awesome! To know it was you GGF's makes it very special. If you like I can hone it and clean it up. I will take the upmost care of it! Send me a PM if you are interested.

Congratulations on a cherished Family treasure!

 

[Shave_Rat]

Congrats for sure on the razor. I'm lucky enough to be in a similar spot, but the razor was in much rougher shape. lol It's currently in very capable hands getting restored. The family heirloom gear is very special for those of us lucky enough to have it. Welcome to that "club", and with a very nice looking shaver, at that.

 

[tezza]

You won't be modifying the razor if you 'tame' the point, you're simply dulling the very apex of that wicked corner - taking the sharp off of it so you don't slice off your ear. You'll never see it unless you're examining the edge under a magnifying glass and you can always get it sharp again if you want, once you get the hang of it.

 

[Shave_Rat]

You won't be modifying the razor if you 'tame' the point, you're simply dulling the very apex of that wicked corner - taking the sharp off of it so you don't slice off your ear. You'll never see it unless you're examining the edge under a magnifying glass and you can always get it sharp again if you want, once you get the hang of it.

+1

All you do is drag the very edge of the point only lightly across a piece of glass. It dulls the edge just enough to make the point less likely to dig in if you lose track of it and it scrapes somewhere while you are watching the other part of the blade on your face. Not impossibly to slice a little, just less likely to. It is easily honed back to being a true sharp point anytime, doesn't do any sort of non-reversable change to the razor. I tame the points on the straights I have still after the first time one bit me pretty good. lol

 

[cwf71]

You won't be modifying the razor if you 'tame' the point, you're simply dulling the very apex of that wicked corner - taking the sharp off of it so you don't slice off your ear. You'll never see it unless you're examining the edge under a magnifying glass and you can always get it sharp again if you want, once you get the hang of it.

+1

All you do is drag the very edge of the point only lightly across a piece of glass. It dulls the edge just enough to make the point less likely to dig in if you lose track of it and it scrapes somewhere while you are watching the other part of the blade on your face. Not impossibly to slice a little, just less likely to. It is easily honed back to being a true sharp point anytime, doesn't do any sort of non-reversable change to the razor. I tame the points on the straights I have still after the first time one bit me pretty good. lol

Thanks, learning more all the time. I thought it would mean rounding the point. (on more than a microscopic level)