Thread: Rolls Razor

I have some rolls razors in my inventory. Need some help on a couple of the blades. Do we have any experts out there. One blade needs a lot of work. Under the scope it has some chips in the blade. Anyone tried to hone it straight on a stone outside the rolls box?

jmsbcknr

I have no experience with those! Sorry

Well I decided to work it like I would a straight. I put it on the norton and worked out the chip then restored the bevel. Put it back on the Rolls hone and will try it this morning. Right now it is popping hairs. We will see.

jmsbcknr

I got a big kick out of seeing this Rolls post...

I FIRST got into all this when, about 7 years ago, saw a Rolls on eBay. For some reason, I started collecting them and have about 25 or so of them! All models and some are brand new too. Then I spread out to the OLD Remingtons [Auto-Strops/7 day Auto-Strops] and have a huge collection. Again, some are even brand new and date back to the turn of the century. The Remington ones are works of mechanical art!! Then it was a natural jump to straight razors.

I would be excited to see what your luck is using a stone/hone that is NOT the one it is shipped with [in the lid]. The action of the blade "whip-lashing" around at the end of each stroke always made me nervous since it is possible to "knock-off" a good edge with a sharp blow anyway. I always wondered about sharpening them by hand! How's your luck so far?

For those who have NO idea what we are talking about...
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/paul.li...scount_all.jpg

A Rolls was nothing more than a crude marriage or the natural migration of a straight razor to a safety razor. It was a short straight razor mounted on a handle with a "bar" going around the blade offset, to incorporate a "safety" feature. Very interesting to see the migration of the straight razor to the safety razors. It was the first sign that razor manufacturers were beginning to have "too much time" on their hands. You would sharpen them by putting the "head" inside the box which was "geared" on the edges. You would "whip" the head back-and-forth. One lid had a whet stone in it, and the other lid was lined with leather for the final pass.

Crude, but a wonderful and fascinating piece of razor progression history!!!

Sorry to bring this topic back up.

How well does a Rolls Razor shave? I've been having the toughest time sharpening a couple of ebay straights I purchased and thought that a Rolls Razor might be another start.

Does a Rolls shave as well as a DE?

I'm looking basically at:
1)getting a really good shave (better than a disposable)
2)never again to use an electric shaver
3)not throwing away disposables away every few days
4)learn how to maintain a good edge
5)eventually use it on my head, since a straight might not be a good idea for a newbie (although with my not-so-great straights, I haven't cut myself yet..)


Thanks,
kelly

Well, the answer to your question is quite simple...
The straight razor has survived centuries of use, the Rolls lasted about 12 years in all. Get the picture?

The base metal used in a Rolls was sub-standard to a straight razor.
Actually, the Rolls was originally meant not as a normal shaving system, but to be transportable for a trip or journey in the beginning.
If you are really into that "migration period", look for Remington 7 day razors or Remington Auto-Strop razors... These came with an "auto-strop" mechanism too PLUS 7 reusable blades with Monday, Tuesday, etc. engraved on them. They too, like the Rolls, came in very decorative silver plated boxes with purple velvet liners. I have one in its original wood box covered in silver sheeting that was handmade!!
Unfortunately, they do not come close to a straight razor in effectiveness.

If you are having trouble obtaining or maintaining a proper edge on your straight razor, visit the Hones or Strop sections of the forum. ALSO, the Help Files on the main page for help and assistance is a necessary stop.

I think once you have a good edge on that straight razor, you'll be here to stay.

Originally Posted by kellykungfu

Sorry to bring this topic back up.

How well does a Rolls Razor shave? I've been having the toughest time sharpening a couple of ebay straights I purchased and thought that a Rolls Razor might be another start.

Does a Rolls shave as well as a DE?

I'm looking basically at:
1)getting a really good shave (better than a disposable)
2)never again to use an electric shaver
3)not throwing away disposables away every few days
4)learn how to maintain a good edge
5)eventually use it on my head, since a straight might not be a good idea for a newbie (although with my not-so-great straights, I haven't cut myself yet..)


Thanks,
kelly

Originally Posted by jmorehead

If you are really into that "migration period", look for Remington 7 day razors or Remington Auto-Strop razors... These came with an "auto-strop" mechanism too PLUS 7 reusable blades with Monday, Tuesday, etc. engraved on them. They too, like the Rolls, came in very decorative silver plated boxes with purple velvet liners. I have one in its original wood box covered in silver sheeting that was handmade!!
Unfortunately, they do not come close to a straight razor in effectiveness.

Heljestrand also made these, and given the quality of their straight razors I've been curious how well they worked.

I tried a Rolls razor a few days ago and quite liked it. They're not very expensive on e-bay. You might want to give it a try.

Interesting things these Rolls razors.
What do the auto-strop and auto hone things look like?

Originally Posted by jmorehead

Well, the answer to your question is quite simple...
The straight razor has survived centuries of use, the Rolls lasted about 12 years in all. Get the picture?

I do not think that's fair on the Rolls. Whether or whether not they were of poor quality steel, they did not get a real chance as they were invented about the same time Gilette marketed the disposable blades. Watch the Nat. Geograph. video on shaving and you'll understand.