Tale of a Three Dollar and 50 cent razor

[M14Shooter]

Won three razor for $10.50 One was a Wester Bros 34 Di-Fi .I gave it to a new straight razor user at work .Great razor for a new shaver .The other is a 5/8 Blue Seal that needs a refresh.

The razor the shocked me was 5/8 Union Cutlery made in 1909 in Union City Georgia.In 1910 they moved to New York.
It was made with US Steel.They did make some with German Steel but they are marked as such.
I honed her on Sharpton Glass up to 16K .Then Finished on Welch Slate followed by a Vintage Feslner Ruby Hone with tallow lather.

Shave was out of this world.Blade was super keen and smooth as silk.This razor shaved like it was made in Eskilstuna Sweden .This blade can hold it own against any of my top razors.Very surprised and happy with this tool made 109 years ago .The craftsman who made it had to be very skilled.Grind was perfect with small even bevel.I imagine the craftsman had many years of experience in Germany or Sweden before he immigrated to the United States.Wonderful surprise for the Fourth of July.Just wanted to us a US Straight for the Fourth .But this lady really surprised me .

 

[ScottChapin]

Nice


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Sdm84]

I’ve had a few Unions they are nice shavers for sure!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[steveclarkus]

That post makes me want to go shave but too late today. Well done.

 

[Bob L.]

Enjoy the US Steel. I am restoring a Case Red Imp. Can't wait to try it out.

 

[stone and strop]

Nice when you get a surprise like that.
One of my best razors (steel quality wise) was an antique store find that looked nothing special and is just incredible.

 

[Bob L.]

Nice when you get a surprise like that.
One of my best razors (steel quality wise) was an antique store find that looked nothing special and is just incredible.

Well said. I keep reminding myself that these blades were handmade. CNC machines didn't exist. Shaping the blade stock, grinding it down, tempering the steel, etc was done by craftsmen. (Though I bet someone figured out something similar to an assembly line approach to increase production. Make X number of blanks, grind X number of blanks, etc...) End result, two supposedly identical blade can behave differently when they meet our faces.