St. Pete FL $50 Box-o-Straights

[BBrad]

Guys:

Last week, while I was visiting my folks in Florida, I posted this about a box-o-razors that I picked up for $50.

Well, here are some pics and a list of what I got:

View attachment 129740
Overview of 23 razors. Top section are the best of them - all salvageable. The seven at the bottom of the group all have major problems - broken tips, chips, bad scales, etc. (Not to mention a badly rusted Sheffield blade bottom right . . .

View attachment 129741
Here are the best of them:
1. Challenge Cutlery Co Bridgeport Ct
2. Henkels Platinum 401
3. Krusius Bros KB Extra
4. Wm Elliot (Germany)
5. Geneva Red Cross
6. Worcester Razor Co.
7. Wade & Butcher

View attachment 129742
The Henkels is calling to me . . . I gave it a few strokes on the hone and strop last night, and gave it a try this morning! I think the scales are either bone or ivory?

View attachment 129743

Here they all are tucked away in boxes. (Only three have their original boxes.) The rest of the good razors include a Jospeh Elliot Sheffield, another "Extra Hollow Ground Sheffield", another Genco, "The Palmer - Chicago", an Oxford from Germany, Kilburne Extra Hollow Ground, a Union, and a JA Torrey in kind of rough shape, but fixable (I hope!)

Any insight or advice you guys can share with me will be greatly appreciated. This is my first batch of straights - I know I have a lot to learn!! (This morning's shave with the Henkels wasn't half bad!!)

I plan on researching the wealth of info here on B&B regarding straight restoration . . . looking forward to the journey!!

 

[Defend Tacoma]

Nice score, Brad! I don't have much insight on restoring, but wow!

 

[kg4ghn]

Holy crap that's a deal right there!

 

[O. Glenn]

Nice deal! The henckels you highlighted appears to have significant hone wear, so you might consider taping the spine when you hone it going forward. Get yourself a tube of Maas and some cotton rags to rub away a bit of the tarnish and you'll quickly be impressed by what you have there. Go slowly, and you'll be fine. Be sure to add photos as you clean them up!

 

[pz93c]

Very good catch, chief.

 

[BBrad]

Nice deal! The henckels you highlighted appears to have significant hone wear, so you might consider taping the spine when you hone it going forward. Get yourself a tube of Maas and some cotton rags to rub away a bit of the tarnish and you'll quickly be impressed by what you have there. Go slowly, and you'll be fine. Be sure to add photos as you clean them up!

Thanks for the tape advice - I give that a try! I like the feel of that one in my hand and hope I can master the honing.

I've been busy this week and haven't done much with them. I plan on working with the ugly junky ones first to see what methods and techniques work best. That way, when I spoil one, I won't cry too much.

 

[BBrad]

Took a few minutes this afternoon to tape the spine and give it a few more passes on the hone. OH MY GOD!!!

Thumbnail test was noticeably better. It took off arm hair like a hot knife through butter . . . and I can't wait for tomorrow morning!! I gave it a few passes on a CrO2 balsa strop, and a few light strokes on leather.

I don't have MAAS (can't seem to find it up here in the north country) but did brighten it up with some Simichrome . . . Don't know what to do with the scales . . . I think they are either bone or ivory and don't want to ruin them. They are a yellowish color and have a slightly rough texture on the outside, with a noticeably rougher texture inside.

 

[Mr. Scruffy]