Thread: Inherited cut-throats or straight razors

Good afternoon gentlemen...excuse me for barging in on your forum, but I could do with a little guidance.

I have been left siz straight razors and would like to know if they are bin-fodder or worth looking after and selling.

All have the first signs of corrosion or rust on the blades---not serious and I would welcome advice on the best way to clean them.

Hard to tell what the handles or made from but I think a couple may be horn...and a couple are probably plastic.

There is a G Myers, hollow ground, decorated blade (boxed)

A Kobar "Special Brand" hollow ground

A German made, hollow ground, decorated blade...can't read name

A Drew Rattler (end of blade seems to be broken)

A Swift hollow ground, decorated blade,

And an "Extra Hollow Ground" decorated blade, can't read name.

I would appreciate any advice you may be able to give,

Regards,

Doug

Hi,
Have you not considered shaving with them? Seriously, we're probably biased, but you'll love it!
I'll get in here 1st & say, you'll have to get some photo's up if you want realistic guidance.

Agreed, get some photos up. It would be a shame (IMO) if you sold any that were in good condition, shave with them!

Welcome to SRP. If you were to post photos members could give you a better idea of the worth based on the condition. Blade wear, cracks or chips in the blade or scales (handles) will naturally detract from the resale value.

If you were to try and shave with them it would be recommended that you have one or more professionally honed. From your post I would bet you are in the UK ? The Invisible Edge is over in your neck of the woods and he does restores on razors.

Check out the SRP Wiki here if you have any interest in pursuing shaving with the straight.

The very idea of shaving with one makes my hands shake..although I understand that they do give the finest shave ever

Thank you for your responses gentlemen...photos enclosed. ( I hope) more available if needed.

Regards,

Doug

Well, they'll restore up. Doesn't seem to be any cracks in the blades. & the chips could be honed out. I think the biggest problem is the rust on the actual bevels. It can eat away & make it hard to re-establish that bevel.
Unfortunately, i don't think you have anything there that would fetch a fortune. If you send them out to be restored i don't think you'd recoup the money it cost by selling them. It'd be worthwhile if they had sentimental value though. That leaves you the option to tackle them yourself, or sell them as they are. Someone here would spend the time on them!
Shaving with a straight isn't that hard, it's learning to do it well that takes the time. Consider it before you offload them!

Thanks Ben,

I think we can discount the option of my using them myself...for a variety of reasons - so that leaves restoring them or selling as is.

I suspect many of you will have been in the same situation I am now in...inherited items filling the garage and my shed...some of it good stuff...most of it sentimental junk...one day, maybe, I will look at some of it...and maybe even fix it.....I am not one of nature's fixers.

My best option is to sell as is (yes, I am in the UK)...if anyone would like to make an offer for this lot, it is likely to be accepted.....because, even though I am not a "fixer" I hate seeing worthwhile and interesting items just getting dumped...seems wrong to me..

Shouldn't cost much to ship them across the pond.

Doug

If no one takes you up on your offer hit them with some 000 steel wool or 1,000 grit sand paper and clean the rust off. Not the pitting but just the red stuff. Throw them on ebay and someone will take them off your hands. You don't have enough posts to put them in the classifieds AFAIK.

If they have sentimental value to you, don't sell them. As Jimmy mentioned, hit them lightly with some fine grit sandpaper (1000 +) .... be very careful along the edge - although they may be "dull" chances are that the edges are still very sharp. The rusty spots will likely come right off with little effort. Once you get the worst of the rust off, wipe them down with some mineral oil.

Cheers,

Rick

Originally Posted by sirathol

Thanks Ben,

I think we can discount the option of my using them myself...for a variety of reasons - so that leaves restoring them or selling as is.

I suspect many of you will have been in the same situation I am now in...inherited items filling the garage and my shed...some of it good stuff...most of it sentimental junk...one day, maybe, I will look at some of it...and maybe even fix it.....I am not one of nature's fixers.

My best option is to sell as is (yes, I am in the UK)...if anyone would like to make an offer for this lot, it is likely to be accepted.....because, even though I am not a "fixer" I hate seeing worthwhile and interesting items just getting dumped...seems wrong to me..

Shouldn't cost much to ship them across the pond.

Doug

I'm in the uk, and i'd LOVE that one with the hollow-ground engraving in the scroll-type thing, with the heart in the middle. PM (private message) me with a price posted, for that one singularly, and all of them. i'll see they get restored and loved (either by me or i'll get someone else to restore them then put them in the monthly giveaway things)

Seriously, though, i NEED that hollowground! (middle one, first pic)

Where in the UK are you? always nice to see another brit