Thread: PJM - C-MON- Peter J Michels Inc Brooklyn NY

I've just bought (eBay) a PJM / C-Mon 5/8 with French ? tip; the tang has C-Mon Hand Made on one side and Peter J Michaels Inc, Brooklyn New York with an image of a bell pierced by arrow on the other. The scales are described as buffalo horn and I would assume these are new as it had been refurbished. I have NO idea of year of manufacture but it looks vintage, as soon as it arrives I'll post pics. It looks like a keeper but I'd be interested in the opinions of you discerning gentlemen.

If it has the bell/arrow, it was made in Germany by Carl Monkhouse and imported to the States by PJM prior to 1937 when he moved to the U.S.
Let's see it..

Originally Posted by sharptonn

If it has the bell/arrow, it was made in Germany by Carl Monkhouse and imported to the States by PJM prior to 1937 when he moved to the U.S.
Let's see it..

I have just bought it from a restorer based in Long Beach, California (rather a trek from Cumbria), and I am not expecting it to arrive for a couple of weeks so I have borrowed some of his pics off the bay. I hope you like it.


I must admit I haven't felt this impatient over the arrival of something since I was 10 years old and Mum had forbade me from coming downstairs to look at the Christmas tree for the umpteenth time!

I like C-Mons. That looks like one of jroweguns razors or a name similar to that on the bay. I can tell his style. I could be wrong. I hope you got a deal on it.

Originally Posted by engine46

I like C-Mons. That looks like one of jroweguns razors or a name similar to that on the bay. I can tell his style. I could be wrong. I hope you got a deal on it.

You most certainly are correct, I am impressed. He also confirms that he made the scales himself for it.

As for getting a deal on it I would say so (is it good practice to reveal on this forum?), even with the postage from California. I think vintage razors in the UK seem to fetch a high price by comparison however.

Originally Posted by sharptonn

If it has the bell/arrow, it was made in Germany by Carl Monkhouse and imported to the States by PJM prior to 1937 when he moved to the U.S.
Let's see it..

Would it have to say Made In Germany on the tang to identify place of manufacture, or is that not necessarily always the case when it comes to razors?

Originally Posted by TomP30

Would it have to say Made In Germany on the tang to identify place of manufacture, or is that not necessarily always the case when it comes to razors?

No, I don't expect you to say what you paid. As long as you're happy, that's the main thing. I have seen his razors. He polishes the blades & on some he makes scales for them. I think he has good feedback plus I have seen some go for a lot less than I figured they'd go for which I hope is your case.

From what I can see, and the pictures are good, I'll be happy. I know of one other vendor on another well known P2P site who is asking in excess of $140 plus shipping, for the exact same razor, it has original scales but cosmetically looks in poorer condition. I can say that I paid significantly less than that, and from the photos at least it appears it has been carefully restored to a high standard.

I am new to these parts and this is the only dedicated C-MON club that I could find.

I've been hanging around the straight threads quite a bit. I decided to get a razor that had some history and was local to me. So I first obtain a German Razor made for a local barber supplier in Newark NJ.

I was browsing on eBay and I came across this guy. There seems to be a cult following for the C-MON razors. So I decided to take a chance on this guy to see what the hype is. I know the razor wasn't made in Brooklyn but I am a fan of the Brooklyn, NY being engraved on the shank.

Now to my questions:
1. My razor looks like the same as the one above. From the original post, can I assume this is from 1928? One of the biggest reasons I want to confirm is that I read some where there were modern C-MONs that just didn't compare to the old.

2. The scales don't look original. Is it worth looking at obtaining the original scales and rescaling?

3. Where would this C-MON rank in performance compared to my other straights:
Modern Dovo Prima Steel 5/8"
Modern Ralf Aust 5/8"
CV Heljestrand No 7 5/8"
Wostenholm 5/8"
Bisby Sheffield Razor 5/8"
Kropp 5/8"
Puma 5/8"


Pictures: