Thread: Judging remaining blade life

I'm curious if there exists any "rule-of-thumb" when judging how much remaining service-life a used razor has left.
I purchased an interesting 15/16 razor off ebay recently, simply so I could have a "large" blade in my tiny five-razor collection (though all excellent shavers currently in rotation).
I was aware this razor was well used as the handle had been replaced with something handmade (though nicer than the included photo indicates) and the honing-wear was conspicuous enough in the auction's photos.

However, after receiving the razor, the blade appears to be in better shape than the Ebay photos led me to believe... and the handle, though not exactly "pretty", isn't too shabby either.

Looking at the images below of this 15/16 Sheffield razor, is this razor nearing its "useful-life" limit? At the very least, I have a clever of a razor for the collection. The razor has a nick-free edge and remains very sharp, so I think a few swipes on the surgical black Arkansas stone and a few more on a pasted strop will bring this razor back to keen.

BTW, the razor's huge handles cause the blade to appear smaller in the photos than they really are... I should think these handles would fit a troll's hand quite well.

Most worn side


Least worn side

IMHO .... that blade has about two generations of life in it!

Wow... holy cow indeed!

It took almost nothing to bring this razor back to keen (if it wasn't already) and I took the opportunity to shave with it this morning.

I simply could not be happier with the quality of shave I received from this razor! No small 1/8"-1/4" swipes with this monster, once it gets moving, the blade doesn't want to stop cutting; this razor's a whisker magnet I tell you!
My typical copper-wire-beard felt as if it were of soft armpit hair as this beast swiped it off my face. Simply amazing!

Now I am more determined than ever to buy a new 7/8" TI that I've had trouble justifying. I do believe I love the plow-blades!

Though the "Troll-razor" as I've come to call it is by far the ugliest razor of my small collection, I believe it could very well be my favorite to shave with!

Paid $20 for it, but had I shaved with it before buying, I'd probably would've paid three times that.

Just thought I'd add this picture for comparison....

Cadman & Sons 5/8" beside the 15/16" Troll


And thanks for the reply, Uthed. I am happy with this razor and hope I get to use it for a very long time!

I saw that one too, but didn't bid because the pic was so crummy. Congradulations on a nice find!

X

b.t.w. ...... the scales look like they were patterned off Wade & Butcher "For Barber's Use" scales ...... that's another large, 1" blade to keep an eye out for .... talk about a heavy razor!