Thread: Sheffield Steel

So, I was sharpening up one of the practice blades that Chris game me. It is a Joseph Rogers and Sons Sheffield razor. It isn't pretty ( it is a practice razor after all), but it took the edge amazingly quickly considering the shape it was in. It wasn't all out dull, but it wasn't sharp either. Anyway, I was just wondering what the average hardness of a Sheffield was. This seemed to be pretty soft, though I have very little experience with steel hardness. It seemed softer then my Dovo and my Novelty. Am I just dreaming, or is this true?

Matt

P.S. Thanks for the razor Chris. I am going to take it for a test shave some time this week. I will let you know how it goes.

Ah.
And I thought you just got a good price for it.

Sheffield steel always seems fairly soft to me, though sometimes those old blades have big bevels that make them slow honing. They still shave great, and though they don't hold the edge as long the easy honing helps compensate.

I find that the Sheffield steel is generally a little softer than the Solingen, but these qualities attract me to it since it take a keen edge a little easier. it's not that it gets any keener than other steels, just that it seems to listen to me better.

X

I've had some Sheffield pieces that hold their edge as long or longer than my Solingen pieces, but in general, yes they seem a bit softer, but overall I like their performance.

The difference in steel hardness doesn't just show up in honing, but in shaving as well. I (and others) think that the sheffield razors and other with similar hardness seem to feel softer and less scratchy on the face. This scratchiness is most often noticed with stainless razors because they are very hard pretty much across the board, but really hard carbon steel razors also exhibit this attribute.

My experience - feel softer, indeed. And it may take a while to hone those wider bevels. For some reason, most of my have needed quite a bit of work (compared to other razors)

I am staying away from stainless exactly because of this reported feel characteristic (never tried, just read about it). And those harder carbons - I know what Michael is describing from experience. Examples: NOS Friodur, Dorko. I still can't get them dialed in (but I am not trying too hard either, just postponed the Friodur totally, and taking it slow on the Dorko)

Cheers
Ivo

Yeah, I shave tested it today. I see what you guys mean about the feel of it on my face, though I don't really have any hard steal razors.

It shaved well. I might take it back to the chromium oxide for a little more polish, but it deffinitely shaved well. No irritation, no burn, just smooth cutting and glide. I am going to have to give this little razor some more attention in the clean up department. It deserves some special care.

Matt

as you own a 'sheffield razor" you may be interested in this info from the university of Sheffields 'Hawley collection':

"Blade steel.
All Sheffield razors were made from high quality crucible cast steel of 1.4% carbon. The ingot was cogged under a large hammer, rolled to a tapered section of suitable size, then cut to 8-10 foot lengths known as `strings´. Most razors until c.1900 were hand forged. After this time they were drop stamped, hardened, tempered over a coke fire."

Yep, I agree with what the others have said. About 70% of my razors are Sheffield steel (old Bengalls are all over the place in Australia - must have been a good market down here for them in the past...) and I've got two Joseph Rodgers wedges. Honed more easily than my Solingens, on average, and all shave beautifully.

Having said that, my Friodur is probably my favourite razor in terms of shaveability, but that could be confounded with its size.

James.