Thread: My Grandfather's straight razor; Use it or Frame it? Your Opinion Please !! THANKS

Obie, can you give us a hint on what about your novel is about?

Originally Posted by Hirlau

Obie, can you give us a hint on what about your novel is about?

Thanks for asking. As a rule, I don't like to discuss the novel I'm working on, because it takes the freshness out of the process. It's like repeating the same story twice, and the second time the story feels a little old. Let's say it's a love story with a musical background and set in Chicago, where I lived some years ago. The first novel, Will's Music, is another love story set in the world of radio and dance and set in San Francisco, where I also lived many years ago.

Let us know when you're ready to release it.

A few years ago I acquired my Great Grandfather's Genco. It wasn't in as good condition as your Bismarck (a tiny bit tarnished), but still in good shape with very little honewear. I eventually honed her up and she's now in my rotation. Indeed, it makes me feel closer to my past and a man that I never met, and it's a razor that I will never part with. IMO you should do the same.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/show-...ers-razor.html
My great great grandfathers razor was handed to me by my Uncle. I wont use it,
For two reasons. One it has a wicked frown from years in the hands of a barber. The other is that I feel my Uncle gave it to me as a keepsake for future generations to see. I feel more of a caretaker of it.
If it was in as good condition as yours is, and it was his personal razor, I would be tempted to use it. Mine looks over my collection.

Welcome to SRP Ernie. That happens to be, as has already been noted, an excellent vintage brand in excellent condition. Add to that the familial aspect and it is a true heirloom. If you are just getting into shaving with straights I would probably buy a shave ready vintage straight out of the SRP classifieds and see if I was going to stick with it. If I decided to stick with it I would get a few more razors to practice honing until I got good enough to maintain the ones I had.

Then when I was real confident of my skills I would hone grandfather's razor. Or send it out, but don't mess with it yourself until you have full confidence in your skills, just IMHO.

BTW, one other thing occurs to me ....... it may be shave ready now, thanks to your grandfather. Like me, just 'cause its old, doesn't mean it is dull ......

Originally Posted by Hirlau

Let us know when you're ready to release it.

I will, thanks.

Hi Ernie, and welcome to SRP!

I agree 100% with Jimmy's advice. Since I don't have a razor that came to me through my family, I can appreciate how precious such an heirloom would be. So if I were you I definitely would use it one day, but maybe not right now. However if you do want to use it, send it to a pro to be honed, and don't go *anywhere* near it with hones yourself until you've got a firm grip on the process by practicing on other, less precious, blades.

And then enjoy using it for the rest of your life, and pass it on when the time comes.

All,

Wow, you guys are great. I am going to do as you suggest; get a decent razor to start out shaving with, then practice honing, then get Gramp's razor honed by a pro.

Again, thanks to everyone. I REALLY like this Forum, you're all real Gentlemen.

Ernest

Originally Posted by Obie

Thanks for asking. As a rule, I don't like to discuss the novel I'm working on, because it takes the freshness out of the process. It's like repeating the same story twice, and the second time the story feels a little old.

I feel the same way about mine.