Newbie - Heirloom Blade

I am just starting to gain interest in the straight razor business. I'm enjoying reading and watching videos on all the processes that lead up including the shave. I hope to move into learning this art form real soon.

I do have a question regarding an heirloom I have from 3 generations ago. The blade is a J.R. Torrey, which I believe is a 5/8 piece. The blade has some tarnish on it but seems to be in pretty nice shape otherwise.

Would it be wise to just leave this as an heirloom and in current shape, or would it be worth honing and using this blade in the future?

Thanks for any discussion on the topic.

Jason

Welcome to your new addiction Vwoo :) Being as I am completely new to the forum and wet shaving in general, take this with a grain of salt, but some pictures would really make it easier for some of the more experienced folks here to give you some advice.

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Originally Posted by Vwoo

I am just starting to gain interest in the straight razor business. I'm enjoying reading and watching videos on all the processes that lead up including the shave. I hope to move into learning this art form real soon.

I do have a question regarding an heirloom I have from 3 generations ago. The blade is a J.R. Torrey, which I believe is a 5/8 piece. The blade has some tarnish on it but seems to be in pretty nice shape otherwise.

Would it be wise to just leave this as an heirloom and in current shape, or would it be worth honing and using this blade in the future?

Thanks for any discussion on the topic.

Jason

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Honing only refines the very edge of the blade so it cuts better, you can still leave a petina or aged look on the blade as long as the scales are intact. There are several expert honers on here.

Here are a few pics. I believe it's probably late 1800 early 1900 circa. Attachment 137156Attachment 137156Attachment 137157Attachment 137158

It's time to hone that sucker up and put it to good use, that thorobred is ready to go, she just needs a tune up. JR Torrey made some of the best razor steel in the world, a little harder than most, but it will take an amazing edge and hold it . Definitely a step above the crowd.

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Originally Posted by nun2sharp

It's time to hone that sucker up and put it to good use, that thorobred is ready to go, she just needs a tune up. JR Torrey made some of the best razor steel in the world, a little harder than most, but it will take an amazing edge and hold it . Definitely a step above the crowd.

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I see you are in the KC area. Do you know anyone locally that you would recommend?

Check the clasifieds and look under the heading "member services".

You should definitely hone that thing up, I wish i had a family heirloom to use but apparently my family was just to lame to use a straight :P. As for fixing it up and polishing it, thats all up to you and the decision became yours on how it should look when you inherited it IMHO.

That looks like a really nice blade! When you said heirloom did you mean it has been passed down in your family?

There are some really good honers in the classifieds that live in MO, a couple are in the K.C. Area:)

Vwoo,

That's one nice looking razor. Just me, but I have several heirlooms and I've pretty much left them with patina. Yours is in very good condition. If you're handling it a lot, put a light coat of oil, mineral, gun, etc. on it to prevent rusting.

Get it honed and use it. Here's the link to member services. Member Services - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

Beautiful Razor!! :tu

Regards,

Howard :)

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Originally Posted by Leatherstockiings

That looks like a really nice blade! When you said heirloom did you mean it has been passed down in your family?

There are some really good honers in the classifieds that live in MO, a couple are in the K.C. Area:)

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It was passed down to me from my grandfather. The blade originated from his father.

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Originally Posted by Vwoo

It was passed down to me from my grandfather. The blade originated from his father.

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Awesome. It is really cool to be able to shave with a family heirloom. You are pretty lucky in that regard.

Welcome to SRP, by the way. What part of the metro are you from?

Vwoo,

Here's a thread you might want to check out and keep up with. If you can make one of these you'll learn more in one day than 6 months of reading and experimenting. :gl:

Howard :)

http://straightrazorpalace.com/get-t...et-anyone.html

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Originally Posted by Leatherstockiings

Awesome. It is really cool to be able to shave with a family heirloom. You are pretty lucky in that regard.

Welcome to SRP, by the way. What part of the metro are you from?

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Thanks. I am in Belton, you?

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Originally Posted by SirStropalot

Vwoo,

Here's a thread you might want to check out and keep up with. If you can make one of these you'll learn more in one day than 6 months of reading and experimenting. :gl:

Howard :)

http://straightrazorpalace.com/get-t...et-anyone.html

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Thanks for the info. I look forward to attending the event!

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Originally Posted by Vwoo

Thanks. I am in Belton, you?

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I live in Northeast MO but am originally from the Liberty area and spent some time in Belton.

Heirloom razors are awesome. I have one too, as do a few others around here. i don't use mine as a daily shaver, but you can. Your razor is a very good brand. I left mine with a little age showing. It is all about personal preference and you can leave the patina for now and remove it later if you choose. Send it out for honing and welcome to the club!

I'm lucky enough to have seven razors my grandfather gave me (and one predates him to before 1891, so it may have come from a previous generation), and they're all Sheffield or German razors in good condition. To me they're too valuable (in a personal way) to not use, so I shave with them. I don't want them polished to look new, so I've left some patina on them - and I'm in the process of honing them at the moment.