Thread: Razor condition question

Hello Straight razor world,

I have been interested in straight razor shaving for a while now, but am still a newbie. I recently became the guardian of a razor that belonged to my Great Great Grandfather. It's a George Wostenholm IXL frame. The date on the box says 1870, and I believe that is an accurate age of the blade.

I would LOVE to use this razor, but I'm not sure if it's in a usable condition. It will need a good professional honing, to be sure. But the point end of the blade curves up in a way that I have not seen with other razors. I'm not sure if that's the way it is meant to be, or if it's been worn down over the years due to stropping.

I'll include a photo to show you what I'm talking about. What do you think?