Thread: Hi! Help with new old razors please, are these usable?

Hi, I'm new to straight razors, and while antique shopping today I bought 6 straight razors from several different stores. I'm hoping they can be honed/restored to shave ready condition. Could I get some opinions? Should I clean these myself? Suggestions on how to clean would be great. Then send out for honing? I have no desire to keep the "patina-of-age" just for the sake of keeping the "patina-of-age" on them. I want to use them if possible. I'm not worried about the value, unless it comes in over a million dollars of course!

So this first one says "The Robeson Cutlery CO, Rochester, N.Y on front, and the numbers 2307 stamped on back.



This one says, best I can read, "American CFD trade Z Mark on front and American cutlery CO 239 Warranted on back. The mother of pearl is very difficult to read the lettering



This one says Friedr, Baurmann & Sohne Solingen-Germany on front and 100 and Comfort on the back.


This one has Howig-Robinson Co Des Moines, IA M.I. Germany on one side, Looks like a large H with a small R in top part of H and Certainty Dry Hone


This one has M.Mogal Germany on the front handle with High Class on the blade and Romo Registered plastic, and RoMo New York City on the back.


This one has Robeson ShurEdge rochester, N.Y, "The Razor that fits your face" on the blade, and 35-H-350 which means "Ground and Honed for Heavy Beard, Very Tender Skin(Rounded end for nervous man) according to this RobesonsRme.com
Complete with wool case, though the wool has some holes and feels kinda delicate, and missing the top snap, so it won't snap shut.

two of those I can't tell by the pictures but the others should be ok. send them off and get them honed. you could send one to several different people and try some different shave ready edges. You could also potentially send them all to the same person and try some different edges.

They all look decent to me. The Robesons are great razors. I don't seen any "million dollar" razors in that set, so I'd advise cleaning them up with some Mothers or MAAS and ship 'em out to the hone guru of your choice and start shaving.

Personally, I'd start with the wider blades first. 4/8's like the first one pictured can be interesting/frustrating to learn on.

Thanks! Yeah, the top one does feel very light and small in my hand. I was thinking of starting with the Robeson ShurEdge, I do have a heavy beard and sensitive skin, so it seems made for me. I guess now I'll look for someone in the Dallas area I can get to hone these for me, if possible. Most of them are really clean rust-wise, but a couple need some rubbing, I've heard that bon-ami or light grade steel wool will work to remove the rust.

Robeson's thing was selling razors advertised to be made just for you and for those who wanted the latest and greatest they made razors scientifically designed. Of course it was all ad hype but like other razors it was all true because all razors are scientifically designed and all razors will shave all faces.

Robeson's are great shavers though. Get those cleaned up and honed.