Any info on an old Griffon Razor

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07-17-2013, 02:49 AM
bluefizz87

1 Attachment(s)

Any info on an old Griffon Razor

Hello everyone!

I just bought an old razor off of ebay and was wondering if anyone had any info on it, or knows where I can get it.
Its a Griffon Cutlery Works # 05 razor. I got it very cheap. I found some info on the company, but not much.
It has 05 and Griffon on one side, and Griffon Cutlery Works Germany on the other. It also has 49B stamped on the tang. It has a little bit of rust around the pin and has a crack in the scale. Just wondering if it would be wroth it to have it fully restored.

Attachment 135612
07-17-2013, 05:09 AM
cudarunner

I have a Griffin 60 and it’s a wonderful shaver (came in the original coffin box and with some Mothers and very little time and work and it looks brand new)! Takes one hell of a nice edge!!

It was an old friends grandfather’s but neither he nor any of his brothers or their sons wanted it! Their loss!!

I hate to use the words here in these sacred halls but they all use ‘electric shavers’!!!:gaah:

Get that razor to a Pro honer for examination and a hone and you my friend will really be better off!!

Looks like a Great Score!

I have my favorite Restorer/Honer, PM me and I'll tell you who I'd highly recommend!
07-17-2013, 05:29 AM
bluefizz87

Thanks for replying!

Its a nice razor! I plan on getting it honed and restored.

It was a big change coming from my 6/8 Steel Dovo, but it still feels great.

Quote:

I hate to use the words here in these sacred halls but they all use ‘electric shavers’!!!

Ive never used an electric shaver, and never will!! :rofl2:
07-17-2013, 02:45 PM
Neil Miller

2 Attachment(s)

I found this in an online directory from 1904:

Attachment 135649

And this from 1920:

Attachment 135650

A. L. silberstein was part of a group of cutlery manufacturers/dealers (others in the group included Vom Cleff & Co, Graef & Schmidt, Krusius Bros., etc, etc) who approached the government about the import tariff imposed on goods from other countries, citing that the average US worker in the same occupation earned twice that of a German worker, for example, so the import tariff was artificially high. I think Silberstein was the spokesman for the group.

In the 'strops' section of this site is a Griffon Cutlery Strop-Aide bar that was posted recently.

Regards,
Neil
07-17-2013, 04:15 PM
sharptonn

Here are some links to Griffon!

14 to 42 - Griffon Cutlery Works

14 to 42 - 19th Street
07-17-2013, 05:19 PM
bouschie

Hi

You did good. I have a griffon 60 that I got on E-Bay also. I gave it a good hone and strop and it is a great shaving razor. One of my favorites. You can restore it or just use it as is. Enjoy.
07-17-2013, 05:29 PM
bluefizz87

Thanks everyone!

Anyone happen to know what the "05" means? Or what the 49B means on the tang?
I know on the Carbo Magnetic theirs a "60". That was going to be my next buy if I can find it for the right price and condition.
07-17-2013, 09:25 PM
bouschie

bluefizz87
there are some griffon 60's on e-bay now. be careful as some of the blades have been oversharpened. make sure the edges are straight and parallel to the spine. I am referring to the razors that are real cheap. $10 to $25.
07-17-2013, 09:50 PM
Geezer

You did do good! The steel quality in most of them is excellent. I have both the straight razor and the SE. Lather catcher versions of the Griffon wedge blades.
any-info-griffon-strop-aide-see-pictures.
~Richard
07-17-2013, 10:21 PM
bluefizz87

Quote:

there are some griffon 60's on e-bay now. be careful as some of the blades have been oversharpened. make sure the edges are straight and parallel to the spine. I am referring to the razors that are real cheap. $10 to $25.

I was looking at some of those, but some of them are in such bad shape. (One had half the blade broken off, another had an inverted smile).

How would you be able to tell if it has been over sharpened from the pictures?
07-18-2013, 03:36 AM
cudarunner

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluefizz87

I was looking at some of those, but some of them are in such bad shape. (One had half the blade broken off, another had an inverted smile).

How would you be able to tell if it has been over sharpened from the pictures?

Perhaps I’m incorrect here, but I believe that the term that bouscie was looking for was instead of ‘over sharpened’ is actually ‘incorrectly honed’. That’s where frowns in the center and toes and heels that are smaller than the center come from on straights!

These are usually easy to see from pictures posted.

Personally I always recommend that until you’ve been into this art for at least 6-8 months or more, stay the hell away from FleaBay!

Take a look at Lynn’s DVDs and he has some excellent guidelines about what to look for and what to avoid!!!

My counsel is to stay with the Classified here at SRP at least until you have more experience with the straights, the terminology and the problems to look for! That will save you much heartache and grief!