Thread: Looking for background info

I've got an older 5/8, square point, straight marked 77 (followed by a strange symbol) "G. Felix. Solingen, Gloriawerk" on one side of the tang and "Made in Germany" on the other. I cannot find any reference to this maker--any ideas?

It's in fair shape, but looks as if it was subjected to an overzealous cleaning with a dremel type tool--there are very faint abrasion marks and the blade was overheated in one small spot--a bummer since it has relatively little honing wear.

I am just curious as to it's history...

TIA

Hey Ronski, I did some research on that marking and found it may have been WW2 era stuff. The marking was related to this:

M7/28 Gustav Felix, Gloriawerk, Solingen That maybe an RZM number on the razor.

This list was an extensive bunch of makers that were on a list to supply the Germans with Ordnance. Possibly in steel productions.
Seems possibly a part of a German Labor party.

Any manufacturer that wanted to manufacture items for any of the NSDAP organisations had to apply for a RZM number from the Reichszeugmeisterei der NSDAP (RZM). This number was then stamped on all the items manufactured and if the quality was not satisfactory the RZM could withdraw the number.

Hope this may help shed some light on it.

Originally Posted by Techy

Hey Ronski, I did some research on that marking and found it may have been WW2 era stuff. The marking was related to this:

M7/28 Gustav Felix, Gloriawerk, Solingen That maybe an RZM number on the razor.

This list was an extensive bunch of makers that were on a list to supply the Germans with Ordnance. Possibly in steel productions.
Seems possibly a part of a German Labor party.

Any manufacturer that wanted to manufacture items for any of the NSDAP organisations had to apply for a RZM number from the Reichszeugmeisterei der NSDAP (RZM). This number was then stamped on all the items manufactured and if the quality was not satisfactory the RZM could withdraw the number.

Hope this may help shed some light on it.

good stuff there, Thanks! I took that info and ran with it. Seems (by one source) that the RZM #'s were instituted in 1936 and used in place of the makers mark. My razor has the makers mark for G. Felix which leads me to think it may be pre-1936. I am curious if G. Felix resumed straight razor production after W.W. II and if so, did they resume using the makers mark also.