Thread: 2X straight razors found in a loft. Help identifying.

Thank you all for such great help and info. The second razor has a shell made handle not plastic like the KROPP if that helps with age and origin. I would very much like to get them both back to there former glory and in use. Is there anywhere near London that i could take them to and get polished and honed? cheers

Shell ? I think it's horn :<0)

It's not shell it's horn, probably cattle horn.

There are a few UK restorers. Niel Miller does full restores and is well respected. Vintage Straight Razor Sales & Restorations, Hand Made Strops, UK Razor Honing and Vintage Hone Stones

Neil also does a honing service, this is the act of resetting and sharpening the razor so it will shave.


If your totally new to this kind of shaving I'll give you some purchasing tips.

For soap.

Boots - ted baker 02 shaving creme. It's a good creme menthol scented. 2-3 squirts in a bowl will lather well.

Superdrug - Ingram creme again menthol, very cheap at £1.50. Lathers well.

Wilko - palmolive creme £1.50 very cheap lathers well.

Savers - erasmic creme £1.50 lathers well sandlewoodish

Your also in london and taylor of bond street have a store there, They have a full range of very good soaps.

Bodyshop - macaroot, Very good soap, lathers well, likes a fair bit of water and give a good glide on the razor. It's also pretty good for sensitive/dry skin.


Brushes.

The best cheap one is boots MenU £10 boar brush. The £3 erasmic savers brush is also good on a budget but you may have to reglue the knot into the handle with some epoxy after a couple of months. The one to avoid at all costs is the bodyshop brush it's nasty.

There are countless video's on you tube on how to make a lather to shave with. Your also going to need to get a strop. Theinvisibleedge have some great deals on low end strops. Strops, brushes & soaps


Watch all the video's you can. And take things in small steps. If you do that you should not cut yourself. Also remember that the biggest part of this style of shaving is training yourself to feel the razor, Take baby steps and add a little more to what you can shave with every shave. Your not going to get amazing results the first shave, it takes a lot of time, and practice. Once mastered it's the best shave you will ever have.

Originally Posted by Polly

Thank you all for such great help and info. The second razor has a shell made handle not plastic like the KROPP if that helps with age and origin. I would very much like to get them both back to there former glory and in use. Is there anywhere near London that i could take them to and get polished and honed? cheers

I would contact Mr Neil Miller. He's over there on your side of the pond. He's a well known forum member here and a true gentleman.

Thanks for all info Iceni, I will definitely have a look at the products you explained, after I use up my current safety razor products. I have also given Neil Miller a Email so looking forward to his reply.

Current Kit

Originally Posted by Polly

Thanks for all info Iceni, I will definitely have a look at the products you explained, after I use up my current safety razor products. I have also given Neil Miller a Email so looking forward to his reply.

Current Kit

A great looking set-up! A great reminder that just because someone is new HERE it doesn't mean they are new to wet shaving OR straight razor shaving.

Looks like you have everything but a strop

You might also want to look into making a balsa paddle to use with Crox paste. It'll act as a blade refresher to be used infrequently when normal stropping no longer gives the desired shave.

Your soap and brush will also blow all my suggestions out of the water. My suggestions were for someone who was wanting to get started.

The macaroot from bodyshop is an excellent product and worth the money. I'm quite partial to the Ted Baker as well it's very different 3 squirts in the bowl should make enough for more than 3 passes. The other soaps while good are no where near the quality of that Trumpers.

Nice finds and they will definitely get you started. Yes, as stated. you will need a strop.