Thread: Jolly Rodgers

I think that razor is older then 1910. Looks to be mid to late 1800's. If you search you will find a few threads on dating Rodger's. Might be further down the family tree then you thought. Very cool. That will be a great shaver also. Good luck with it.

Thanks for the advice. I’m pretty good at sharpening knives and chisels on oil stones, so am tempted to do it myself, I remember seeing a service at a very traditional barbers shop just off Piccadilly in London, I seem to remember £4o for honing though I don’t know if the work required on mine would cost more, I could certainly clean up the blade myself.
I have a terrible confession to make, that may well get me lynched on here! As a young child, I used to explore some drawers at my grandmother’s, well after my grandfather died, I remember finding quite a few straight razors that held quite some mystique and were slightly frightening because of their keen edges. One, I swung into the edge of a table, taking a large neat V shaped nick out of the blade, followed by several more! I could cry now, I’m sure it would have been a top of the range razor! Oh well......
When I get this one in good working order, I shall post some more pics of it.

Originally Posted by matarius777

Thanks for the advice. I’m pretty good at sharpening knives and chisels on oil stones, so am tempted to do it myself, I remember seeing a service at a very traditional barbers shop just off Piccadilly in London, I seem to remember £4o for honing though I don’t know if the work required on mine would cost more, I could certainly clean up the blade myself.
I have a terrible confession to make, that may well get me lynched on here! As a young child, I used to explore some drawers at my grandmother’s, well after my grandfather died, I remember finding quite a few straight razors that held quite some mystique and were slightly frightening because of their keen edges. One, I swung into the edge of a table, taking a large neat V shaped nick out of the blade, followed by several more! I could cry now, I’m sure it would have been a top of the range razor! Oh well......
When I get this one in good working order, I shall post some more pics of it.

Karma has condemned you to acquire at least as many straights as you ruined as a child. By the time you’re done, you will be hooked.

If you have not honed a razor before I would not start with that one. You don't want to chalk up another one. At least watch a few videos and practice on a non heirloom razor. Sharpening a razor is quite different then a knife.

Originally Posted by DZEC

Karma has condemned you to acquire at least as many straights as you ruined as a child. By the time you’re done, you will be hooked.

Fear not, I’m working on it!
I have a lovely gold plated Gillette safety razor with the 9 different settings on a dial, the one with a lever at the bottom of the handle, to open it (hope I’m not offending anybodies sensibilities mentioning safety razors on here! LOL). I did identify the exact model and year, but have forgotten, it’s from the 1950s. Also have some awesome badger hair brushes, all with the yellow amber looking handles, one of them, a travelling one that pops out and has a screw lid. I also have a couple of pretty cool Bakelite soap stick cases, with “appointment to King George” on the lids, one red, one blue. They’re all laid out as a homage to days past in my bathroom, and present though, as I do use them!
Back to the original subject though, does anybody in the U.K. know where I can get my razor in working order, the only one I know is on Jermyn Street, off Piccadilly, London, a very posh establishment- I am on a very limited budget, unfortunately. I live in Lancaster, Lancashire, although I do visit London fairly regularly, to visit my sister.
Many thanks for your replies.

There are two members here from the UK that I can think of off the top of my head. They both do work on razors. Private message them and see what you can arrange.
Markbignosekelly
Celticcrusader

Originally Posted by Hacker7

If you have not honed a razor before I would not start with that one. You don't want to chalk up another one. At least watch a few videos and practice on a non heirloom razor. Sharpening a razor is quite different then a knife.

Sound advice! I would have carefully viewed all the info on here, but remembering how long it took to get knife sharpening fully cracked, I shouldn’t really inflict it all on this one, where I only get one chance!

Originally Posted by RezDog

There are two members here from the UK that I can think of off the top of my head. They both do work on razors. Private message them and see what you can arrange.
Markbignosekelly
Celticcrusader

Nice one! Will do.

Originally Posted by jseitz

I waited for this entry until I could get it all gussied up!

Attachment 286411Attachment 286412Attachment 286413Attachment 286414Attachment 286415

Have I got this right? The second razor is actually the first after restoration?? Wow!!! Have you changed the scales or had they been painted originally?
Is the blade carbon steel, if so, I really didn’t realise you could get carbon steel that polished! I’m now picturing my grandfather’s that grand looking. Eeh by gum! Ecky thump!, (As we say in Lancashire) Tongue hangs out, lol.

Originally Posted by matarius777

Have I got this right? The second razor is actually the first after restoration?? Wow!!! Have you changed the scales or had they been painted originally?
Is the blade carbon steel, if so, I really didn’t realise you could get carbon steel that polished! I’m now picturing my grandfather’s that grand looking. Eeh by gum! Ecky thump!, (As we say in Lancashire) Tongue hangs out, lol.

There are gentlemen members of SRP who regularly do magic with blades and scales. You should ask the members RezDog suggested if they can help restore that family heirloom. We would all love to see the after pictures if you do.