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

[Parrotthead]

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

[Utopian]

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.

[prrfan]

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!

[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.

[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.

[Utopian]

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.

[Parrotthead]

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.....

[Parrotthead]

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?

[Leatherstockiings]

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.

[Firefighter2]

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