Inherited Grandfathers Keen Kutter, cousins are going to be shaved with it.

Hello to all!

My father recently passed away and one of the things he passed down was his fathers Keen Kutter straight edge razor.

The razor still has the blue cloth wrapped box it came in. The cap end of the box says "Simmons Hdwe. Co." U. S. A.

The longer end of the box says, "Keen Kutter" with "Germany" printed just below where the two section slide together.

The razor itself is a hollow ground style with "Simmons Hdwe. Co" "U.S.A." embossed on one side and "Germany 1150 w" embossed on the other.

The handle is black bakerlite material and has been cracked on one side near the riveted end.

I am going to take the razor to a shop in Oklahoma City to have it properly sharpened.

Once that is done I have located a barber that is willing to shave with it.

Several of my cousins are going to join me at the barbershop and be shaved with the razor our Grandfather used. Most of us have memories of him.

Is there any thing I should be aware of in this endeavour?

Best wishes to all,

Parrott_head

You should be aware that most sharpening places will ruin a straight razor. Honing a straight razor is nothing like honing a knife.
You need to ask them if the people who do the sharpening actually shave with straight razors. If they don't, then walk away.
You also need to ask how they do the sharpening. If they use ANY sort of power equipment, then absolutely do not let them touch your razor.

I will let those that have a lot more experience with honing a razor speak to that, however, what a great way to remember your grandfather! Good luck!

Thank you for the advice about sharpening. The shop doing the sharpening is a upscale barber shop with several barbers that use straight edge razors. How many shaves can you get with a blade before it must be stropped or honed? The barber we are using uses a straight edge with replaceable blades.

Someone proficient at shaving and stropping straight razors can go couple of months or more between honing and touching up. The razor should be stropped before every shave.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Parrotthead

Thank you for the advice about sharpening. The shop doing the sharpening is a upscale barber shop with several barbers that use straight edge razors. How many shaves can you get with a blade before it must be stropped or honed? The barber we are using uses a straight edge with replaceable blades.

---

Even in a barber shop, if the barbers only have experience with shavettes (with disposable blades) there is no guarantee that they can hone real straight razors.

I'm sorry that I am being so negative but too many beginners here have been burned by people who claimed to be able to hone straights because "sharp is sharp." Just be sure that the honer knows what he is doing before trusting your family heirloom to him.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Utopian

Even in a barber shop, if the barbers only have experience with shavettes (with disposable blades) there is no guarantee that they can hone real straight razors.

I'm sorry that I am being so negative but too many beginners here have been burned by people who claimed to be able to hone straights because "sharp is sharp." Just be sure that the honer knows what he is doing before trusting your family heirloom to him.

---

You don't seem negative at all, just experienced. That is most welcomed.....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Leatherstockiings

Someone proficient at shaving and stropping straight razors can go couple of months or more between honing and touching up. The razor should be stropped before every shave.

---

Would a barber shop that uses Shavettes have and know how to use a strop? Or should I start looking for one?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Parrotthead

Would a barber shop that uses Shavettes have and know how to use a strop? Or should I start looking for one?

---

I think it would depend on the barbershop. Older barbers might have a strop around still and know how to use it.

OP:
I'd sure like to see a picture of your razor. ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Firefighter2

OP:
I'd sure like to see a picture of your razor. ;)

---

I'll see what I can do....

Shavettes do not require stropping. If the barber shop has a strop, it might just be for show. Again, if they don't ever use real straights then they very well may not know how to strop either.

There is going to be a meet-up in Burkburnett, TX starting next Thursday for 5 days. I realize that it is a 2 hour drive each way for you, but if you might be interested in learning more about straight razors, then you could come down for a few hours to learn more than than you can imagine exists about them!

You can read about it HERE.

Attachment 256629

The bottle cap was to give the camera something to focus on....

Welcome. I'd say you need to fix the scales first, then get it honed. Without the wedge being pinned, there's no tension on the tang to keep it open properly. It will lead to injury, or a disaster.
Nice razor though, hope all works as planned.

Awesome heirloom, not much more to say than the guys before me have.
I hope that you can get it repaired and enjoy a great shave from it

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by outback

Welcome. I'd say you need to fix the scales first, then get it honed. Without the wedge being pinned, there's no tension on the tang to keep it open properly. It will lead to injury, or a disaster.
Nice razor though, hope all works as planned.

---

What are "Scales"?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Parrotthead

What are "Scales"?

---

The handles, that hold the razor, and folds into.

Welcome to the forum and there has been some very good advice already provided.
Good luck.

That's a fantastic heirloom, all previous advice is great and should certainly be followed.
The razor meet if you can make it would be very beneficial for you. Good luck

Can't say I've been to every barber shop in OKC but none I have been to use real straights only shavettes, so chances are they know nothing of straights. I,m guessing Ok. Doesn't allow them to use. This is an heirloom, send it to ones of our pros to have it fixed and honed. I wouldn't chance it my self, or look up our membership and find someone close to you, I know we have members there. If I was at work I'd meet you, and as mentioned this week in Burkburnett Tx there will be a hone or two there. DONT TAKE CHANCES WITH YOUR HEIRLOOM. Tc

Hello, welcome on SRP wich is, as you can see, an international place.

First let me present you my condolences. But what a great idea to make remembrance of your ancestors that way.
I think there is somewhere on the forum a post explaining how to find other members in your vicinity. That will allow you to find help to hone your family treasure.
I wish you all the best for your quest.

If you cannot make it to Burkburnett, here is a link to find members in your area,

http://straightrazorpalace.com/memberlist.php?do=search

Hi and welcome. You have received some great advice. Be careful and hopefully you can pass it on one day

Sorry I've been absent....

I took the razor to a shop that sales straight edge razors, they had several new ones on display. I asked the clerk for details about the sharpening process. He said they did not do it on site, they collected for a man that did theirs. The clerk said the honing is done by hand using proper tools and that it is finished by stropping. I will try to find nearby members of this forum, I live in Oklahoma City, Ok. The clerk looked the blade over and remarked it was in very nice condition, he saw no reason it shouldn't hone well. I will keep you all posted and when the family gets together I will post photos of the event.

Hello from OKC, Parrotthead! I have a feeling that the state regulations don't permit barbers to use anything other than single-use blades that have to be discarded after each customer has been shaved with it. You and your cousins have a great idea to be shaved with your grandfather's old razor. (That will be a matter for discussion between you and your own barber.)

With regard to getting it refurbished and sharpened, all of the above advice is exactly right as far as I am concerned.

I've received your PM and will send you a reply with the name of one of our fellow SRP members who happens to be located in another state, who I believe to be among the best in the country at taking care of old razors. I have used his services on several razors, and feel very comfortable recommending him to others.

However, there may be someone here in OKC who is quite capable of repairing or replacing damaged scales and making the blade look and perform like it did when it was new. I am glad to know you have already found the shaving shop that has a connection with someone locally. That probably should be your preferred course of action, at least in the beginning. You should arrange to meet with him personally and ask him to show you some examples of his work before you make your decision.

Welcome to SRP. Best regards!

Ok, here is the latest....

Dropped the razor off at a local shop that sales high end shaving gear. They sell straight edge razors. The gentleman that took my razor looked it over carefully and remarked that it should sharpen just fine. He marvelled that it still had the original box it was sold in. He did not hazard a guess on the age of the razor.

Now for the event. I have a barber that has been in business 40+ years that will do the deed. We have reserved the day of April 1st (Yep, All Fools Day!) for the event. I am calling my cousins and trying to get it together. The barber has used a Shavette for all of their career and doesn't own a strop, so I had to purchase one. I would have loved to gone with a high end one but the Scotsman in me just wouldn't let loose with that sort of cash. Once I get the blade back I am to go the the shop and the barber will practice on me.

I need to find some good videos on how to properly strop a blade, I'm certain it's one of those things that if done wrong the damage is immediate.

So far my younger brother and one other member can't make it.

I thank all of you for your advice, I might have taken the razor to a knife shop if I hadn't come here first.

I will update this topic as event unfold and will post photos of the event.

Great to hear things are coming along. Check out the stropping area of the forum.
There are many stropping videos there.
Good luck and enjoy

Here ya go this is a good one

http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...ing-video.html

Study that video closely. The angle of the blade is determined by the plane connecting the spine to the edge and both have to maintain contact on the strop. If you lift the spine off of the strop, the edge can be rolled over. That is, the "V" shape of the edge can be rolled over into a "J" shape. One mis-stroke and the edge can be ruined.

Just be careful and you should be fine.

The strop and dressing came in the mail. I look forward to putting them to use. May practice on some of my better knives.
Went to some antique stores the other day and they a a large selection of razors for 20-30 bucks.....


And in the list of boneheaded things I have done, apparently I applied the dressing compound to both surfaces of the strop....sheesh....

So how many did you buy.!!

I so wish I would have stumbled upon this thread sooner.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by outback

So how many did you buy.!!

---

Man, I'm in deep Kimchee now just for sharpening the one I have and buying the strop.

Welcome to the club :roflmao

You get used to being there after a bit. So just get comfortable

But their small, and so easy to hide. [emoji56]

Right unless you start getting the Big Choppas......the. It could be a bit of a challenge lol

NEVER EVER, EVER TRY TO HIDE ANYTHING FROM THE SWMBO! (Wife, Girlfriend, Significant Other etc)

That relationship is based on TRUST! If there is NO TRUST, then there is NO RELATIONSHIP!

Attachment 257919

Send it to yourself USPS, then show it to your ol lady saying ..
Oh my God baby!! Look what one of the guys sent me.

Don't laugh...it really works. [emoji23] [emoji23] [emoji56]

You speak very wise words of wisdom Roy.

Don't give away ALL our secrets Mike :roflmao