Thread: I just bought my first straight razor.

Face beware, I just bought the 6/8 Hibbard Spencer Bartlett Full Hollow from the classifieds.

Congratulations on your first straight. Just go easy, take your time and most all, enjoy the shave.

Congrats! Welcome aboard!

In case you are interested, a lot of razors were re-branded for vendors. Just as nowadays you can get a pen, a ruler, or a fly-swatter with the logo of a company on it, years ago many stores offered their own brand of razors, which they purchased and had their logo stamped into the tang. Your razor is an example of this. A google search revealed this information of HB&S...

Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co.
This leading hardware dealership was the descendant of a Chicago store called Tuttle, Hibbard & Co., which took that name in 1855 when William G. Hibbard became a partner. In 1865, Hibbard was joined by Franklin F. Spencer, and the enterprise was renamed Hibbard & Spencer. By 1867, the company's annual sales of hardware had reached $1 million. When longtime company employee A. C. Bartlett became a partner in 1882, the company's name became Hibbard, Spencer & Bartlett & Co. When Spencer died in 1890, the company was already among the leading wholesalers of hardware in the United States. In 1903, the year Hibbard died, the company opened a 10-story warehouse next to State Street Bridge in downtown Chicago. In 1932, the company introduced a new line of hand tools under the brand name “True Value.” By 1948, Hibbard's annual sales reached nearly $30 million. Business slowed and profits were shrunk, however, as new hardware cooperatives began to bypass traditional wholesalers. In 1962, the company's owners, who wanted to move into the real-estate business, sold the hardware operations and the “True Value” brand to John Cotter for $2.5 million.

Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co.

I've found many of the American distributors obviously using rebranded solingen blades are all good Shavers. Thanks for the bit of info on HSB's Utopian. I can say first hand that this one take a very nice edge

Agreed. Despite the rebranding, these were excellent quality shavers. I have both a Harvard razor and a Yale razor. The Yale razor is a re-re-branded HSB razor, and in this single incidence, Yale beat Harvard.

Congratulations!

mjparks89,

Well, good for you. Congratulations!

That razor should serve you well; and because its your first straight, it will always have a special place in your heart--and your face.

MJ, I had an HSB. It was just wonderful at taking edges and giving great shaves. I appreciate Utopian filling in some of the blanks. I always tell the newer shavers that the old US blades - domestically made or re-branded are wonderful, and a killer value. I've probably used a dozen or so, and if it didn't shave well, it was my own fault on the honing. Use it with pride.

Sometimes I keep a blade that is FAR from my preferences. The thing that makes me keep it is the shave. I hate the smaller (4/8) blades, yet I keep and use one Shumate, 'cause the shave is outstanding. Henry Sears & Sons (1865 - brand, not year) were imported from the Wilbert company if I remember correctly. I have two. They're both smaller than I like, thinner, lighter in the shank, but just shave like a house a-fire.

Don't be surprised if on your journey, you find a number of humble razors that are just incredible performers. Can you say Genco Fluid Steel?

Dang, and it'll be another 11 hrs before I have anything i can shave again.