Used ESTAS 51: worth restoring and good first razor?

[spremino]

Hello,

I've eventually managed to get my hands on a vintage straight razor. Now I'd like to know whether is can be restored for shaving and if it's good as a first razor. The razor is an ESTAS 51 / W. EICKENBERG / SOLINGEN-WALD / MADE IN GERMANY. Scales are not tight (second photo: blade falling off just by weight). The blade has not rust spots, however has a nick (third photo).

How can I know whether it's carbon or stainless steel? What blade size is it?

Thanks.

 

[professorchaos]

Absolutely! Restore it and use it. I cannot be sure from the pictures, but it appears that the razor won't require much restoration.

 

[Unknownsoldier]

Looks like a minor honing will remove that nick and perhaps tighten that rivet, after that it looks good to go

Tom

 

[spremino]

Thanks for your prompt answers.

Besides the loose pivot and the nick on the blade, the razor has no flaws.

Luckily, I've found an inches-based ruler, and the blade is between 6/8 and 7/8 inches (21 mm to be precise).

Well, I think I will send it to Mastro Livi (only honer in Italy I know of) and he will tell me whether it is stainless or carbon steel.

 

[leighton]

I could have that looking like new and shaving in about an hour. I would say definitely worth the small investment for what looks to be a great vintage razor. I'm a huge fan of vintage razors. In fact, the only new ones I have are customs.

 

[K.T.]

Hi, Spremino.

How did this restore go, and how does the razor shave? Did you ever find out whether it is stainless or carbon?

I picked up an Estas that looks identical to yours. It has good heft to it and looks to be a quality razor. I'm not sure, but it may say 41 or 49 on the blade instead of 51. I'll have to check.

My scales are a little warped and there are some surface scratches on the blade, but I think it will clean up very nicely.

I'd love to find out more about this razor and hear about how yours came out. For as nice of a razor as it is, I can't find too much information on the Estas brand.

Cheers!
K.T.

 

[spremino]

Hi K.T.,

Sorry for my late answer.

I didn't want to go through the (little) hassle to have my razor restored yet, and I'm a newbie anyway, therefore I can't elaborate further.

I agree that information about this brand is sparse, however according to what I did find at the time it should be a good (old) brand.

Happy shaving ^_^