Thread: Can it be saved?

Hello all. First time poster here. I have been shaving with a DE razor for over five years and often contemplated shaving with a straight edge for a while now. I happen to be thinking about it on my drive home last week and stopped by one of the larger antique shops here (there are lots of antique shops around here). I saw a few straights and picked this one out. It was only $5 and seemed to be in decent shape, I did notice that the blade was a little wavy but thought that as long as it was sharp, it shouldn't make much of a difference. I figured, why not, it's cheap and maybe I might take up reconditioning them as a hobby. The worst thing that could happen is that I loose $5.

Well, since then, I tried shaving with it thinking, "If it can shave paper, it can shave me". WRONG!! It did nothing but take off the lather. I thought, maybe it's the angle, four more attempts...nothing. I then said, "Oh well, I guess it needs to be sharpened" and shaved with one of my DE's.

After searching the net reguarding straight razor sharpening, I found out two things:

1: The blade looks a LOT shorter (distance from top to blade) than the ones I've seen on the net.
2: The price of sharpening the blade and remaking the edge will be at least $30.

My questions are:

1: Can this razor be saved? It looks like a LOT of material was taken off and it was NOT sharpened properly.
2: If it can be saved, what would be done to add material and what would the total cost be (adding material, remaking the edge and sharpening)?
3: After all is said and done, is it even worth doing? I don't want to put a bunch of money into a razor that's not worth much to begin with (or is it, I have no idea). Am I better off finding another razor that's a higher end model (for the right price of course and paying more attention this time now that I have an idea of what a good one should look like) and sending that one out to be sharpened and just take off the scale and keep it for another project or whatever and use the blade to practice reconditioning? Or should I just say the heck with the old stuff and just get a new one?

Being my first straight razor, I don't want to spend much. I want to get a feel of shaving with one and learn the techniques needed to shave with one before I develop RAD like I somewhat did with DE shaving. My first DE I bought (old Gillette tech) at one of the smaller antique shops here for $10.

The razor is a Robeson Suredge, the number on it is 1697 and on the other side of the blade it says "BARBERS"

I am attaching pictures. Maybe someone here can not only help me with the questions asked but can shed some light on the quality (overall and blade wise) and worth of the razor.

To be honest, it was MUCH easier starting with a DE, you just had to worry about the condition, cracks and if all the pieces were there (regarding used ones).

I thank you all for any answers, comments and suggestions that helps me with all this.

Sorry, it looks like you have a dud there. To much hone wear. Uneven bevel and edge wear. St8ts are an investment, but you can get a cheap setup through Whipped Dog.

What Wintchase said.

But Robeson SurEdges are generally good razors when they've been properly maintained and cared for. Too bad this particular one is a dud.

Also, you can get your razors honed for less than $30. PM me if you want and I can send you the names of a couple of honemeisters I've worked with who charge less than that.

It might make a nice letter opener.
If you're into woodworking, you could do a bit of grinding and shaping to turn it into a small carving tool.

Thanks for the info and opinions, no matter how brutal they are. The funny thing about it is that when I was looking at it I said "WOW, they look smaller in person". Sort of the opposite of some actors and actresses! As said, no biggie, 5 bucks. I'll use it to practice my restoration techniques and then maybe use it as a letter opener or something else. I do have a grinding wheel and a thing I bought back in the 80's for sharpening my filleting knifes that's shaped like a V and has three different stones on it. Not good enough for sharpening a razor (or is it?) but more than plenty for a letter opener and practice sharpening techniques.

Oh well...the search goes on.

A grinding wheel is NOT what you use to hone a SR, you need flat stones for that.


that razor does look pretty much done, but I dunno, a good honemeister may be able to get her shaving again, go into the classifieds there are several members offering honing services, contact them and send pictures and see what they say.

Barring that, I agree whipped dog is a GOOD inexpensive way to get into SR shaving

That thing is toast. Funny, though, seems kinda like a Whipped Dog offering to me.

Originally Posted by mcgyver74

A grinding wheel is NOT what you use to hone a SR, you need flat stones for that.


that razor does look pretty much done, but I dunno, a good honemeister may be able to get her shaving again, go into the classifieds there are several members offering honing services, contact them and send pictures and see what they say.

Barring that, I agree whipped dog is a GOOD inexpensive way to get into SR shaving

I agree with all of the above EXCEPT the part about getting it shaving again! Although i agree with the thought that is COULD shave again i would say that it is NOT worth the $$$ to send it out since the bevel is in to the shoulder it will take a LOT of work and need to be more than your standard honing! IMHO!

I would also say pick a set up from Larry at whippeddog and you will be good to go for about the same amount to $$$ it would cost to get this one shaving again!!!!

Originally Posted by BKratchmer

That thing is toast. Funny, though, seems kinda like a Whipped Dog offering to me.

I couldn't DISagree more!!! Although the whippeddog razors are by no means "lookers" i have NEVER seen one this bad! if you can produce images to back up that statement then right on other wise what help is it to newbies looking for advise? To say that looks like what you'll get from one of the AFFORDABLE places to get in to this is counter productive. I am not saying you can't fine better looking razors for a low price in the classifieds here but there are times where you CAN'T and larry offers a great way to try straights out without having to drop $100+! as a vendor do you offer a SUB $50 option for ppl to try out???

Originally Posted by BenjamanBarker

as a vendor do you offer a SUB $50 option for ppl to try out???

I don't want to get into sales here, so lets go to PM for any long explanation. The short answer is YES, and the pictures are FREE.