Thread: Looking for info on C.V. Heljestrand MK No.. 12 7/8

Hi everyone,

I am a big fan of Heljestrands, and I own a few including a big MK No. 133, and I recently ran across another large Heljestrand that I have not seen mentioned before on this forum. On Ebay, there is a nice looking 7/8 MK No. 12 up for auction:



Big Vintage Swedish CV Heljestrand MK12 Straight Razor 7 8 | eBay



It looks like this auction will be pricey and well out of my price range, but I was curious if anyone had any information about the razor?

I did a search of past forum posts, as well as general Google search, and I could not find any information on the MK No. 12, 7/8. I found this lack of information surprising given the fact that it seems like forum members and razor collectors in general tend to covet these types of big razors. Anyone own an MK No. 12 or know anything about it?

I don't have the info you requested, Bordee, *but* here's interesting on Heljestrand:

http://strazors.com/uploads/images/a...eljestrand.pdf

I've seen that Strazor grid before, but it definitely is missing a lot of the different models. In particular, there is almost nothing on the non-MK razors.

I guess my point is that I find it curious that a 7/8 Heljestrand MK model is so obscure and undocumented. It seems that with other coveted brands -- such as Filarmonicas and Dorkos -- that the 7/8 razors are well-documented.

Here is a post with a link to a size chart that bassguy put together. No # 12 but it might be of interest in any case. I've got the impression that the MK series was the top of the line or maybe the one most often exported in the latter years of the company. I could be mistaken about that though. Maybe someone can turn up some old catalogs with the models and sizes. Not much history or documentation on our hobby unfortunately.

I'm pretty sure the MK razors were mainly sold through the Kindal cutlery and surgical boutique on 23 bis rue de Constantinople, 75008 Paris (it still is, by the way although they seem to mainly sell in knives and pocket knives). Being located in Paris, the MK razors most likely got more international attention than the unstamped ones elsewhere. At least, that is my theory.

Originally Posted by Pithor

I'm pretty sure the MK razors were mainly sold through the Kindal cutlery and surgical boutique on 23 bis rue de Constantinople, 75008 Paris (it still is, by the way although they seem to mainly sell in knives and pocket knives). Being located in Paris, the MK razors most likely got more international attention than the unstamped ones elsewhere. At least, that is my theory.

As far as the USA goes, I know Mk stamped Heljestrands were being sold in Hoffritz for cutlery in the early 1970s until ....... ? who knows ...... but they certainly were a global export whatever model # Helje stamped on the tang. I bought an MK32 ivory scaled Helje from Alex Micah, then the oldest practicing barber in the USA @ 99 years old. He said he bought it in the 1920s. This was in Madison, NJ about 1985. Anyway, not that they were the only ones by any stretch, but Heljestrand made first class razors.

The MK No. 12 ended up going for $320 with multiple bidders at the end.

Originally Posted by Bordee

The MK No. 7 ended up going for $320 with multiple bidders at the end.

I thought you were looking at a MK #12.

Typo, good catch