Thread: Custom wedge blades for lather catchers

Originally Posted by BobH

I do like SE razors and have collected some over the years. Your mention of the Darwin jogged my memory and I had a look see at what I had in the SE line. Sure enough a Darwin turned up. IIRC I bought it at one of the local antique stores. I really should try it out sometime. They are very nicely made compared to the Rolls razor or even the Wilkinson 7 day set I have.

Bob

LUCKY! They're beautiful razors. Apparently the entire razor and blades are made of cobalt steel. The ingenuity of the whole razor is amazing when you realize it was made in the 1930's.

Originally Posted by joelkerr

Yesterday I went to buy a Valet SE, and the guy threw in a Wilkinson SE. From what I’ve found it’s an Empire, but not from a 7 day set. Anyways, it needs a bit of cleaning and the blade probably needs honing, but I was doing research to just figure out how the heck it works. Interesting razor!!

Attachment 307574

Welcome to the club Joel! I know Badger & Blade has a whole section for SE razors, you might want to search there for more info on the Wilkinson.

I've got some old SE's...have to dig some more of them out.

BobH, great find on the Darwin!!! LOL!!!

Here's my Wilkinson 7 Day set, remember Bob we talked about how to hone those blades up....took me awhile, but beautiful with an Escher edge.

Originally Posted by Phrank

Here's my Wilkinson 7 Day set, remember Bob we talked about how to hone those blades up....took me awhile, but beautiful with an Escher edge.

Was that conversation on this forum? I'd love to know how you managed to hone those tiny blades!

I used one of my Weck razors as a blade handle and flipped it end for end when I felt I was likely half way when I honed mine up. Oddly enough mine have an Escher finish too.

Turns out I had shaved with my Darwin.

https://sharprazorpalace.com/show-te...shave-set.html

Bob

Phrank, it was the Wilkinson that first got me into SE razors. I never ended up getting one but the way the razor works and the whole look got me very interested in the SE razors of that time period.

A Darwin just popped up on eBay but it's missing a blade and the one blade that is does come with seems pretty scuffed up. Razor isn't in as good condition as others I've seen too. Not sure if it's worth the buy or better to keep waiting.

Originally Posted by BobH

Turns out I had shaved with my Darwin.

https://sharprazorpalace.com/show-te...shave-set.html

Bob

Bob - we also had a few back and forths in PM - long deleted but think you used some tape and a Swaty hone and got some good results. There's another thread somewhere where we go into a little more detail about getting the blades up the progression of grits but can't find it.

But IIRC, you had some good results with the Swaty and a finishing stone....

The small Wilk blades are indeed a pita to hone, but they do shave nice once dialed in. I have like 4 sets but only 5 blades! =P
I love my Rolls, and somewhere in the deep recesses of SRP there is a thread I created on a basic resto on them.
As for "should I buy this one?" my theory has always been "There is Always Another"