Razor Quality

[Learner]

Learner: I have an old Blue Diamond, made in Germany & sold by S.R. Droescher of New York plus a Marke Birko, Solingen stainless. Any
input on their relative quality? The third razor I have is a Robeson Shur Edge 15-L-40. I read about their much respected quality on this
site two days ago. I don't, however know what the 15-L-40 is code for. Thanks for any help.

[Chevhead]

You can do a search to see if there are any threads about anything you are questioning.

[criswilson10]

Blue Diamond was a Norvell and Shapleigh trademark in the early 1900s I believe. Good razors and the ones I've seen had pretty scales on them.
Birko I know nothing about, but being a Solingen razor, I expect it is a good razor.

I'm sure there is a thread on here about the Robeson numbering system, as Ed mentions above, do a search for it to learn a lot.
The short version is that model 15-L-40 is the model number that "fits your face" for "tough wiry beards and tender skin".
Check out RobesonsRme.com and click on the straight razor link.

And yes, the Robeson is a good razor.

Send them out to be professionally honed and start shaving.

[Learner]

Thank you criswilson10, I'm adventuress enough to try honing them myself. I have been investing in honing stones (Norton 4000/8000) and Hard Arkansas and
more. I have gotten them to pass the hanging hair test. I have nicked myself a few times; I'm telling myself that is part of the learning curve.

Incidentally, I bought the first two many years ago at a flea market at the local fair grounds for almost nothing but have only recently become interested
in shaving with them and I am thoroughly enjoying it. I am seventy four, have a one man auto restoration shop where I am busy enough that I work
seven days a week. Still very active and still excited by life and activities.

[criswilson10]

Sounds like you've honed a few things before.
I'd still recommend sending at least one of them out for a professional honing so you will have a reference as to how sharp a sharp razor really is.
It's worth the $30 or so.

Nicks and cuts do come with learning (check out the cut of the day thread), but you are less likely to nick yourself with a sharp blade, well except for ears and nose.

[Learner]

Thanks again, criswilson10. I think sending one out for a reference point is a good idea. I'll do that. The nicks I have caused I think are from not yet having mastered
shaving technique. The Blue Diamond & the Robeson that I mentioned earlier are both square point. The Marke Birko is round point which I think is safer for me. I did
nick my left ear lobe with the Robeson by not closely watching what I was doing. Haven't nicked the nose & will do my best not to.

[RezDog]

Blue Diamond was used by Grah and Plumacher, their mark was the tuning fork. I think that they made a lot of razors for other people, but a lot of them retain the tuning fork as in SRD Blue Diamond with the tuning fork was most likely made by Grah and Pumacher. I would not be surprised if the others with the Blue Diamond mark and the tuning fork were made by them as well. I have had quite a number of SRD razors and they have all been pretty top shelf. Not that different from C-Mon or Bresnuck or Hess Hair Milk. All very good razors all made by unconfirmed cutlers.

[Learner]

RezDog: thank you for the input. Learning the history of old razors is interesting. I picked up the Blue Diamond & the Robeson for three dollars each at a flea market
at the local county fairgrounds many years ago. I also got an Ashcraft pig skin strop (No. 50) made right here in my home town of Portland IN shortly after getting
the razors. I just bought the Marke Birko from an ebay aution. It is old, never used, in brown waxed paper packing & in original box. It seems to be a mystery razor
that nobody knows anything about. It's stainless and honed up nicely; now I will see if it will hold its' edge properly.

[eddy79]

Hi and welcome. A quick search on birko will bring up a lot of information about makers quality etc. Good luck and any questions feel free to ask

[Learner]

Thank you eddy 79. I will try the Birko search you suggest. I had a week of R&R in Austraila from Viet Nam in 1968. I spent most of my time playing tennis
at courts in Rush Cutter Bay. I saw a Maserati Mexico parked by a curb while I was mucking about. Had a good time.