Thread: Antique Gartian razor question

it was very common for the frugal (and they were ALL frugal back then) man to replace broken horn with a piece of straight wood. No shaping it, no giving it a wedge. Just a quick, and functioning handle. They are not original scales, but they might STILL be 180 years old!

What a great Survivor and cool story!! Welcome to SRP!!

Does anyone have advice on honing these old blades? I did mine last night and with the extreme smile it was the hardest hone job I have ever tried. It also had several shallow nicks so I had to remove a little more metal and it really developed a wire edge. I had to strop it on my stickiest strop for 100 or more passes before it slicked up. It really shaved well after all the work though. I felt like I could have done a better job on the hone and saved some time and work.

Originally Posted by TimothyJames

Does anyone have advice on honing these old blades? I did mine last night and with the extreme smile it was the hardest hone job I have ever tried. It also had several shallow nicks so I had to remove a little more metal and it really developed a wire edge. I had to strop it on my stickiest strop for 100 or more passes before it slicked up. It really shaved well after all the work though. I felt like I could have done a better job on the hone and saved some time and work.

Your razor looks difficult to hone. If you are not an experienced honer, and you managed to bring it to shave ready, pat yourself on the back for a job well done.
Tape on the spine for sure, and working with the high and heavy heel is not so straight forward. If you feel it could be better honed, send it to a pro with plenty of experience with this particular style razor.

Well, I did get it to where it shaves really well. I've used curved knives for wood carving for several decades so I have some feel following the bevel around an arc but it is not easy to do. Focus and picking up a patient rhythm. It is hard to tell sometimes if the edge doesn't feel sharp because it isn't or if it has a wire edge. I have some optics to help but I rely on my thumbnail more than anything. I'd be interested in any advice.

Thanks for your ideas.

Wow, it must be fun shaving with a razor that old. I have my grandpa's razor tucked away but never finished getting it shave ready.

Yes Ken, it is neat thinking that this razor may be in it's 3rd century of shaving faces.... Get that old razor you have ready and give it a ride. Band-Aids are cheap and most scars fade with time.

Magpie, I did tape the back during the heavy honing, I used a very thin Teflon coated tape so it did not increase the adhesion to the stone surface. I probably should have left the tape on it throughout because taking it off changed the bevel half way through...Not smart on my part.