Winchester 8527 with box

[Parallax]

Picked this guy up today at an antique store. It's a Winchester 8527. As you can see, it came with its box. The proprietor wanted $40 but he took $25. I'm new to straights and know almost nothing about them, but this one sure felt nice to hold. A quick browse of the internet on my Android seemed to indicate this would be a good deal. Seems to be well honed.

What do you think of this razor? My interest is in using them; not putting it up on a shelf to look at. Thanks.

 

[Doc226]

I like the hammered tang, should hone up nicely

 

[tinashubby]

I like the peening! Sounds like a good price to me. I really hope I never get the urge to try a straight. I'll be a bleeder for sure!

 

[drathgeb]

My dad gave me one in much worse shape than that. Cleaned and honed up very nicely. Will be a great shaver.

 

[tomjr]

looks good 2 me

 

[Parallax]

I love the bakelite scales. Love the heft and feel of it too. Will try it out tomorrow. My guess is it will need to be honed. How difficult is it to learn this skill?

 

[BakerAndBadger]

Not difficult to hone, the difficulty is being constant and controlling your natural urge to put pressure on the blade.
Getting a shaveable edge isn't as difficult as it looks, you just have to be really self critical and dissect each failure and each success. Eventually you'll get there but it'll take time - I guess I've spent probably 6 hours honing different razors until I managed to get my first really shaveable hone, that was primarily because I wanted to be as true to the traditional honing techniques as I could and when it didn't work I used tape on my spine and succeeded where I'd previously failed. My honing is limited to a coticule so it may be easier on film - ask Slash and Seraphim, they are firm advocates of film.

Shaving with a straight isn't difficult to learn , just bloody (sometimes), but difficult to master - I've been at it about 6 weeks and shaving 4 - 5 times per week so I'm just a beginner. What's also fun is changing your razor gives you a whole new load of stuff to learn - heavy ones slice everything (chins included) lighter ones can stall in heavy growth, each one feels and looks different, some slip in wet fingers, others are more difficult to "spin" in your fingers when stropping.

 

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

I have been using straights for just seven months and can assure you I am not very handy. Watch some Youtube videos on it - GeoFatboy has some good ones. That is what gave me the confidence to try. Go easy at it, use baby steps and gradually progress. My experience was the same as many in that I bled a lot more with my DE razors than I ever have using straights. I think it is because you are naturally more careful. I'd get it professionally honed if I were you only so you know it is done right and can concentrate on the shave not wondering if it was the honing you did. Nice razor by the way.

As to stropping there are videos out there on that. I tried both ways and found it better for me to not spin the tang in my fingers. Instead, I keep my thumb and fingers in the same place on the tang and rotate my wrist as the stropping is done. I have probably a dozen straights and yes, the shave has variety depending on which one I am using. I love the heavy wedges so most of mine are heavy ones - lots of momentum. Their weight holds them against the beard whereas for me the extra hollow blades just didn't work.

Give yourself a month and you will discover muscle memory kicking in on your shaves. Again, watch those videos over and over - they will serve you well.

 

[Parallax]

Tried the Winchester out this morning and it worked rather well for a razor that just came from the junk shop. When fully honed, it's gonna really hold its edge. Love the weight. But I switched over to the Wolverine, recently honed to perfection by Doc, to go ATG.

The Winchester is so close to sharp, perhaps I can just strop it over balsa (with the whippeddog strop kit materials). Any thoughts?

 

[ladykate]

The Winchester is so close to sharp, perhaps I can just strop it over balsa (with the whippeddog strop kit materials). Any thoughts?

You won't hurt it by trying. So give it a go. If it is cutting hair then it might tune up nicely. I've gone from no HHT at all to HHT 4 on just paddles but it takes a while sometimes. If the edge is uniform and you are true of heart, you might be pleased with the outcome.

 

[Parallax]

Thanks.

By the way, you must be one of the only women to not only use but also hone straight razors. Very cool.

 

[Haggises]

He ain't no lady!

 

[jred]

Who else but a woman would put a night light on a vibrating safety kamisori?