Thread: 3 Bokers that need TLC

I have 3 Bokers (2 King Cutters, and one Magnetic Steel all eBay stuff) that need some TLC. One of the cutters is in really good shape, the other two may be too far gone, too much hone wear, to save. Anyhow I'd really like to send them out so an experienced eye can have a look and give some advice as to what I should do. For shipping reasons a Canadian member would be preferred, but someone in Montana or Washington (north west USA) would also be good. If any are worth saving I'd be willing to pay for a honing and obviously the shipping round trip. Thanks in advance for reading.
G

Could you post a picture or two of these razors? I'd be happy to help but I'm not a restorer, I send mine out for that. I can put a reasonable edge on any razor that doesn't need intensive care such as large nick removal, improper blade shape such as frowns or new scales. I mean, I could probably do that too but I don't have enough experience on my own razors yet to do this kind of heavy handed work on someone else's razor. Still, a picture or two would give us an idea of what needs to be done and might elicit some help closer to home... I could have sworn we have at least one if not more active members in Alberta.

Regards

Christian

Sorry for the poor quality but all I have is the laptop camera. (left to right in the group photo) So the big cutter "best" is 6/8 and shows very little hone wear, this is the one I'm most hopeful for. The other cutter (yellow scales) is a little over 5/8 and the widest bit of hone wear on the spine is 1/16. The Magnetic steel is 11/16 and the widest piece of hone wear is 3/32. I guess I just need to know if there is too much wear to try and hone or if they have been honed beyond holding a keen edge. Hope these help.

hone ware is not nessisarily the death of a blade. I have several blades with some heavy hone ware that still shave great. Some of the guys who are more experianced than me may disagree but I dont see why any of those coulnt be cleaned up ans make good shavers.

They all look to be in plenty good enough condition to just hone and shave with. The ones with the extra spine wear will take a bit more work on the hone due to the wider flats on the spine and possibly the bevels but they will shave just fine. Too bad the sway backed razors have had the edges straightened though... They would originally have had smiling edges but it takes a bit more work to keep them that way.

If we can't find someone in Calgary to help you out, feel free to PM me if you like. I'm not a hone meister yet, but I've honed up a dozen ebay razors by now and they all shave me just fine and equally to one that was honed for me back when I started out. I'd be happy to do one at N/C for you other than that you pay shipping both ways.

Regards

Christian

They look fine, I have honed up a lot worse and returned them to service. Boker steel is one of my favorites. The Boker is typically a better quality razor then the normal run of the mill razors. You should get great service from these for many years.