Thread: Svenskt stål/Swedish steel

I picked this J.A. Hellberg up about 6 months ago when first learning to use a straight. Tried it once or twice and didn't get anywhere near the results (for a newb) I was from the other razor I was using.

So, about two weeks ago I grabbed it off the shelf and spent a little time touching it up on a coticule (I've since learned to hone) in order to make sure it was shave ready with the intention of posting it in the classifieds...

The next day I gave it a test shave to ensure it was ready to sell and was absolutely blown away by the results -- so much so that I immediately decided to hang on to it for a while and made it the 'go to' razor in my regular rotation. It was one of the most comfortable shaves I've had yet and had been a continual pleasure to use these past two weeks.

I'm impressed with all the great razors you guys get.
Wonderful stuff and really nice cleanings.
Congrats to all of you, and keep them coming.

Malacoda? The master of devils!

Originally Posted by bellerofonte

Malacoda? The master of devils!

Wow, I've been using 'Malacoda' as a userID ever since I read Dante's Inferno fifteen or so years ago and that is the first time anyone has given any indication that they recognized what it was/where it came from.

Well done bellerofonte.

The character really grabbed my attention when I read the book because he displayed a sense of honor... of sticking to the code/rules... even though he was captain of the evil demon guard. A few days later I was in need of a user name - something that would be easy to remember yet had little likelihood of having already been taken - and that character name was still fresh in my head. So, Malacoda it was and I've been using it ever since...

Originally Posted by Malacoda

Wow, I've been using 'Malacoda' as a userID ever since I read Dante's Inferno fifteen or so years ago and that is the first time anyone has given any indication that they recognized what it was/where it came from.

Well done bellerofonte.

The character really grabbed my attention when I read the book because he displayed a sense of honor... of sticking to the code/rules... even though he was captain of the evil demon guard. A few days later I was in need of a user name - something that would be easy to remember yet had little likelihood of having already been taken - and that character name was still fresh in my head. So, Malacoda it was and I've been using it ever since...

For me is easy! I was born and live in Tuscany, between Florence and Siena, the country of Dante Alighieri, Francesco Petrarca, Giovanni Boccaccio, Cecco Angiolieri, Mino Maccari,...........this page is too short for a list!

Oh man! I want one! I want one!

Originally Posted by cako72

Ok, polished up my Mkn33 the best I could without taking it apart, I don't want to risk the ivory..

Anyways, here it is:
C.V Heljestrand Mkn33 7/8"
Ivory scales in perfect shape.
No honewear, seems unused (yet!)

I received it this morning, does anyone know something more about Rex?

thanks for the input,

Juko

Originally Posted by Juko

I received it this morning, does anyone know something more about Rex?

thanks for the input,

Juko

I have a Rex quite like this too. It's a 4/8 half hollow. Does anyone have any additional info regarding the Rex brand?

I was reading Henrik Ibsen's Peer Gynt today and came across the following exchange, which I thought I would share with this group. (Note: The following comes from page 55 of the 1990 English translation by K. McLeish.)

BALLOON (A French businessman): You're Norwegian, aren't you?

PEER: By birth, yes. But by inclination, a citizen of the world. For all my financial success, I have to thank America. For my well-stocked library, I'm grateful to Germany. France gave me my style in clothes, my savoir faire. England taught me to work hard–especially for myself. From Italy, a smattering of dolce far niente–and once or twice, in a really tight spot, I fought my way clear with the help of Swedish steel.

Greetings.

How can I determine the age of an antique Heljestrand razor? I recently found a C.V. Heljestrand MK No7 straight razor from an antiques shop. It was quite cheap, I guess mainly because the pivot pin is loose enough for the blade to flail around dangerously (the blade does center well between the scales, but it moves way too freely - it is easy to get the blade fall on your fingers if you're not holding onto it). The case is also mismatched and ill-fitting (the box is meant for a considerably smaller Herder razor, which was nowhere to be seen) The razor has obviously seen a lot of use, as the honing marks on the edge imply. I assume it has been in use until very recently.

It is however rather clean (only minor darkening of the steel and some soap residue between the scales), the blade is without nicks and scratches and it is very sharp for a find like this, the scales are all original, intact and not warped, and the razor is very sleek and elegant in form. It fits beautifully in my hand, even better than my rather robust Boker which I use normally. I hope I could do some restoration work on it, as I'd love to try it, but I have not yet dared to even clean it.

I can try to get some pictures if they are needed, but I haven't got a camera in my possession at the moment.

So, an antique MK No7 Heljestrand razor. How old is it?