Newbi info and advice

[wellboy]

Hi All
Having read through this and other forums for the past few months I have now become a convert to straight shaving.
Found these in a local "junk shop" and I am looking for any info.
http://my.pho.to/wellboy/s1/albums/untitled_gallery/
Razor 1 No markings ecept the name BOHLER STAHL on the tang
Razor 2 has R CLARK Newcastle on the blade. EXPRESS on one side of the tang and GROUND IN SHEFFIELD on the otherside.
Razor 3 Bismarck Razor Bismarck on one side of tang and Made in Germany solingen on other side.
Any info on these razors please.
There is no real damage to any of these razors except for tarnishing.
What is the best way to clean them up.
I am also thinking of trying to hone these razors myself but am really unsure about doing it, I have honed woodworking tools before but something against the skin is totally something else.
What would be the the best one to try to do myself and the best to send to someone who can do a proffesional job on it.
Sorry about the quality of photos but my camera is playing up.

 

[Luc]

Welcome to B&B!

I don't have any specific information on those razors but they should be very good shavers. From the pictures, they look in decent condition.

My advice would be to get a strop and send those razors to a honemeister to get them sharp. http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index.php/Honemeister

I wouldn't venture into honing just yet, it's better to have a profesionnal having a look at them, making sure he can put an edge on them. It will give you a reference on how sharp those should be.

How to clean? I guess that a metal polisher should be enough. From what I can see, there aren't not rust stains, maybe a bit of pitting.

 

[ferroburak]

Bismarck is a good brand

 

[johnmrson]

Pretty much all razors from Sheffield and Solingen are going to be good. Bohler Stahl is actually a gun maker so I don't know if they made the razor or it's advertising for them. Looking at the pictures, they all look in pretty good shape though.

 

[taffy]

Sheffield/soligen, you can't go wrong, as others have said, send them for honing and go from there.