Thread: Need advice on a Razor.

I purchased a #132 4/8 Red IMP Wedge Razor made by Ludo Shear & Razor Works in Solingen, Germany. I have found the company was in business from 1930 until 1971. From what I have read blades from this area are good blades. Is this a good razor to start with or just keep as a collectors razor and get a different one to shave with?

It would be nice to see a close up or two of the blade, and hear from you whether it has any chips, etc.

Welcome to the most friendly, helpful and informative site on the web!!

You will find members here of all different backgrounds, ages and occupations from all corners of the world and all with a quest for more knowledge about using and maintaining a straight razor!

With all that said, you will find that 99.9% of Everything about straight razors is 'Personal Preference'!

I usually don't recommend a 4/8 especially a square point for a beginner but if it is a Near Wedge it may be more forgiving.

From what I've seen what you have purchased 'should' be a serviceable razor. A simple 'clean up' will take care of 'some' of the discoloration but unless you want to spend some big $'s I'd just clean it up some and hone it.

As previously mentioned more detailed photos would help. However I'll go out on a limb and offer to 'try' to clean it up and hone it for you for just shipping from and back to you.

If I can't pull it off, I'll recommend a more experienced honer and send it to them at my expense. You would be responsible for the honing cost + shipping back to you.

If you need references, I will gladly provide them

Again, Welcome! It's a long strange trip but it's well worth the journey!

Thank you for the offer. It has no pits or chips in the blade just discolored. The blade catches on the calluses on my thumb. I think it just needs some personal time with a strop. I have a norton 4k/8k stone if the strop does not work.

[QUOTE=SCHunter09;1334010]Thank you for the offer. It has no pits or chips in the blade just discolored. The blade catches on the calluses on my thumb. I think it just needs some personal time with a strop. I have a norton 4k/8k stone if the strop does not work.
PM Sent

A Red Imp Wedge would be a great choice for a beginner's razor, IMO. Small, stiff, and predicable. Hard to beat!
Get it properly honed and it should serve you well.

Originally Posted by cudarunner

Welcome to the most friendly, helpful and informative site on the web!!

You will find members here of all different backgrounds, ages and occupations from all corners of the world and all with a quest for more knowledge about using and maintaining a straight razor!

With all that said, you will find that 99.9% of Everything about straight razors is 'Personal Preference'!

I usually don't recommend a 4/8 especially a square point for a beginner but if it is a Near Wedge it may be more forgiving.

From what I've seen what you have purchased 'should' be a serviceable razor. A simple 'clean up' will take care of 'some' of the discoloration but unless you want to spend some big $'s I'd just clean it up some and hone it.

As previously mentioned more detailed photos would help. However I'll go out on a limb and offer to 'try' to clean it up and hone it for you for just shipping from and back to you.

If I can't pull it off, I'll recommend a more experienced honer and send it to them at my expense. You would be responsible for the honing cost + shipping back to you.

If you need references, I will gladly provide them

Again, Welcome! It's a long strange trip but it's well worth the journey!

That sums it up well! Great folks on this site! Cudarunner

Hi and welcome. Looks nice and should be good with a clean up. Plus it looks like the square point has been rounded a bit so should make it easier not to cut yourself. would probably start with at least the 8k before the strop as it is unlikely it would be there and even less likely if you clean it up. Good luck

Welcome to a fine group of people here on the forum! So much to learn, so many to help!

Seriously, everyone has given good advise, Cudarunner was right about smaller razors being finicky and those square points!
However, the tip can be muted under the bathroom windowsill, silenced appropriately. This 132 is what is referred to as a 'Modern' grind wedge. A Plethora of makers produced them. I shaved with a 7 day set of them, all in bone, for over 2 years using Williams and a suspended, dry balsa strop! Lessee, DD Satin Wedge, DD Special Wedge, Morris Prosperity Wedge, Engel's Wedge, Case Red Imp Wedge, CMon Wedge, Hmmm. The last one.......Morris Red Imp Wedge! Never found a Ludo!
I learned a lot from them. I became Their biggest fan! So smooth and easy to use. They are the 'bricks' of razors. As they shave, they all shave great as everyone had great steel at the time they became popular. Honed them on a progression of barber's hones! Took forever. Rolls of tape! Pinned them up in cowbone scales salvaged from mostly Wester Bros razors with broken, trashed blades! Them was the days!
Spikes are the same! I still have 4 or 5 of those types. Love them!