Tiny Koken 4/8

I have been messing around with some purpleheart and different finishes. I liked the look of the grain of the wood and wanted to keep it, but the oils I was using kept darkening it alot so decided to try a water-based finish. I think it turned out ok. Anyway the razor is a tiny 4/8 Koken Barber's Co. I am rather disappointed with this one not because of how it turned out, but because of the fact that I had to make new scales for it. I copied the design of the original ones which were a very nice black bakelite with orange marbelized swirl look to them which I broke while repinning them. The slightest tap snapped them.

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Lucky your among friends, a thread about your tiny Koken could go south fast ;). Nice scales!

Necessity is the mother of, ah you know the rest. Well done, I enjoy purpleheart wood too. A CA finish does not seem to darken too much either.

Bob

Nice JOB and who was Nancy Hanks? Seems I have seen that before! Sand the wedge a bit so it is not visible from the side.
Don't let 'em get you down about that 4/8. It takes skill to use one and, if it is sharp, it will run with the big boys! It just is not sexy to some as it is small.
Every time I use one I say "WHOA", did that little razor do THAT?
Glad to see you have treated it well. A smaller razor is merely scaled down by half or so, but yours is full-sized nice.

OK. Firstly, Nancy Hanks was Abe Lincoln's stepmom. She died in 1818. A Racehorse was named same 1892-1893. Then we have a train named "Nancy Hanks" in 1947. I am thinking the train on this. I saw something about a train wreck.Attachment 103055

History, in 4/8! :D

Nice... very nice! I might uh, have a thing for 4/8's, and that's a beaut!

Sorry, But it seems there were earlier "Nancy Hanks" trains. one had a crash in the 1890's and the biggie was in 1953!
Don't cut yourself!


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Thanks for the info I was thinking Nancy Hanks was maybe a previous owner.

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Originally Posted by JSmith1983

Thanks for the info I was thinking Nancy Hanks was maybe a previous owner.

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Bahahahaha...

No worries there. This always comes up on these. I feel is is to commemorate a train (or wreck?). A key to this is to figure out what the 2.04 means.
A challenge to....earcutter!
Find out! I have faith in you!

Well 2.04cm = .8" so that's not it... hmmmm! It takes 2.04 times the man to use a smaller razor lol? :)

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Originally Posted by earcutter

Well 2.04cm = .8" so that's not it... hmmmm! It takes 2.04 times the man to use a smaller razor lol? :)

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Dude! A Train! a wreck! Nancy Hanks! Google! Yahoo! You can do it! :D

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

Dude! A Train! a wreck! Nancy Hanks! Google! Yahoo! You can do it! :D

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Is she related to Phoebe Snow? Or was she one of the Harvey Girls?

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Originally Posted by mapleleafalumnus

Is she related to Phoebe Snow? Or was she one of the Harvey Girls?

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I am thinking possibly an ancestor of Phoebe. Definitely not a Harvey Girl! But...You never know!

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Originally Posted by mapleleafalumnus

Is she related to Phoebe Snow? Or was she one of the Harvey Girls?

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lol - I got it from a paper out of 1913!!

The Country Gentleman - Google Books

That's how long it took to do a mile - nice! Cool history!

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Originally Posted by earcutter

Well 2.04cm = .8" so that's not it... hmmmm! It takes 2.04 times the man to use a smaller razor lol? :)

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OK. it takes 2.04 times the man to use a smaller razor. Close to two and a half men, in my estimation. JYHO

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Originally Posted by earcutter

lol - I got it from a paper out of 1913!!

The Country Gentleman - Google Books

That's how long it took to do a mile - nice! Cool history!

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So it was about the HORSE! Muchos Gracias for the info, earcutter! Good going!

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Originally Posted by JSmith1983

I have been messing around with some purpleheart and different finishes. I liked the look of the grain of the wood and wanted to keep it, but the oils I was using kept darkening it alot so decided to try a water-based finish. I think it turned out ok. Anyway the razor is a tiny 4/8 Koken Barber's Co. I am rather disappointed with this one not because of how it turned out, but because of the fact that I had to make new scales for it. I copied the design of the original ones which were a very nice black bakelite with orange marbelized swirl look to them which I broke while repinning them. The slightest tap snapped them.

Attachment 103034Attachment 103035

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Hey now that I know a little bit more about what that name and number mean - the blade is even cooler in my opinion lol!! You think you can take a bit of a clearer shot of the markings side that has the manufacturer and place of make - I know it's a Koken but i can't make out where it was made.

Thanks!

Here is a close up finger prints and all. Thanks again for all the info. Rather interesting finding out why a name is on a certain razor.

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Nice job.
I had one of those. Great little razor. Coulda told ya bout the hoss if I'd seen your thread sooner ;)