Need Some Advice Please

[jflwr]

I got into de shaving several months ago, and have recently gotten really interested in the idea of shaving with a straight razor. I guess my curiosity overtook me today, because I spotted one at a flea market and hurriedly grabbed it up without really researching what I should be looking for. I had heard the manufacturers name so I thought it would be a good buy. Anyhow, I guess my questions for you all would be: is it worth it to try to get this razor shave ready, or should I look for a new one. I have no clue about honing one of these so I will be sending it to someone who does. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, Thanks!

 

[KZero]

<snip> Anyhow, I guess my questions for you all would be: is it worth it to try to get this razor shave ready, or should I look for a new one. I have no clue about honing one of these so I will be sending it to someone who does. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Looks like you got yourself a really nice razor there! Nice score.
To answer your question, yes it is worth getting shave ready. It's hard to tell for sure without closer pictures, but it looks to me like all it needs is to be honed.
There are many members here who will be happy to chime in and make suggestions for who to send it to. I have used Doc226's services, he does great work.
There are many others also. Welcome to the wonderful world of straight razor shaving!

 

[Sando]

You got a nice blade there. I agree you should have an experienced honer do that work. But it looks like a toothbrush and some cleaner will go a long ways to getting her right. It shouldn't take much to clean and hone her up.

What about a strop? There's inexpensive options or use newspaper on the spine of a book as a makeshift alternative.
Enjoy!

 

[jflwr]

Thanks for the information! All I have so far is the razor, so now my slow days at work will now involve less Netflix and more online shopping. I have another question that from what I have gathered from my google searches may be an impossible one to answer, but I figure this is the best place to ask. I have figured out that if it doesn't say England than it is 1890 or older. I am wondering if there are any more experienced eyes here that could help narrow down a time frame in which it was manufactured? Again thanks!

 

[tomjr]

nicely done. welcome to the dark side.

 

[Gamma]

Prob pre-1890 but anything is possible. Actual age would be very difficult to figure.
Don't sweat the vintage. Get it honed, pick up the basic tools (strop/etc) and get shavin' with it.

 

[totorlekiller]

is it worth it to try to get this razor shave ready, or should I look for a new one.

Well, a new one would set you back about 90$ for a Dovo with a plastic body, that is supposed to come shave-ready, but might not be quite there (so you might need to get it honed anyway).

Getting this one honed, would be about 20 and this W&B seems to have some personality.

As for the strop, I am sure you'll find plenty of recommendations. I started with a $80 Dovo one from AoS I got as a gift and I ruined it. So my advice would be to get something functional but cheap, like that one for $20 on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009ERCX1Y) and start with that until you know what you want and need from strop.

So basically, you are just $40 away from a new shaving experience.
Enjoy.

 

[jflwr]

Well, a new one would set you back about 90$ for a Dovo with a plastic body, that is supposed to come shave-ready, but might not be quite there (so you might need to get it honed anyway).

Getting this one honed, would be about 20 and this W&B seems to have some personality.

As for the strop, I am sure you'll find plenty of recommendations. I started with a $80 Dovo one from AoS I got as a gift and I ruined it. So my advice would be to get something functional but cheap, like that one for $20 on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009ERCX1Y) and start with that until you know what you want and need from strop.

So basically, you are just $40 away from a new shaving experience.
Enjoy.

Thank you for the link! I plan on going back to the place in a couple weeks after I do some more research and see if there are any others worth getting. There was one other wade and butcher but it was a bit more than this one. And I was suppose to be anniversary shopping anyhow.
I know we aren't suppose to ask what's it worth questions here, but would you say the other in similar condition to this one would be worth the $30.00 they were asking for it. If that's an inappropriate question I understand and apologize in advance.

 

[Legion]

We can't give valuations, but I would personally pay $30 for that razor in your OP without blinking an eye. The razor is from around 1860-1880ish, and I'm pretty sure those scales are real ivory.

 

[rickboone1]

Congrats. That's a nice score. I'm happy to hone it up for you at no charge. Cover shipping is all.

 

[jflwr]

We can't give valuations, but I would personally pay $30 for that razor in your OP without blinking an eye. The razor is from around 1860-1880ish, and I'm pretty sure those scales are real ivory.

Thanks for the information! Straights are a whole knew world for me so I have a lot of searching and reading ahead of me, should be fun!

 

[jflwr]

Congrats. That's a nice score. I'm happy to hone it up for you at no charge. Cover shipping is all.

Thanks, that sounds great!

 

[totorlekiller]

We can't give valuations, but I would personally pay $30 for that razor in your OP without blinking an eye. The razor is from around 1860-1880ish, and I'm pretty sure those scales are real ivory.

I was thinking more like light horn. Either way, it seems very nice.

 

[Legion]

I was thinking more like light horn. Either way, it seems very nice.

Nah, old stained ivory. Horn scales are thicker. Also, look at the pins and the crack at the wedge end. Ivory.

 

[totorlekiller]

The thinness and crack made me think bone initially, but the color and textured did not quite match, so I thought light horn.
But you are right that seems too slim for horn.
I guess I have not been enough around ivory.
On the bone side though, I saw a knife this weekend with a handle made out of giraffe bone and the color (pale yellow with greenish spots) and texture were very different from the typical clean white. Maybe it was fossilized or something like that.