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

Hi All

I have recently joined and wondered if anyone could help by giving me some info on these two razors. The razors were found in a loft together. Are they good razors? are they worth sharpening up?

I have never used a straight razor before but would love to start and wondered if i could start with these.

Cheers

Ok so here is the 1st straight razor








And this is the second. This one is very heavy and has some markings on the blade?

Well the Kropp is a great razor. I just had one and it was a great razor that really took a keen edge and held it too. I found this information from one of the threads here.

"The Kropp Manufacturing Company was a London firm that made razors for the UK and world market. Some of their razors were made and ground in Sheffield, some were made in Sheffield and ground in Hamburg. They majored in good quality, everyday razors for everyday guys and succeeded admirably. They also supplied the retail trade and offered a variety of options, mostly engraved blades with the retailer's name on them. All Kropps I have had have been good and one of my prized razors is an 8/8 full hollow grind made by Kropp for Whiteaway Laidlaw & Co. Ltd., Rangoon. You have a good razor, no mistake."

Hope that at least helps with one of your razors. I would say that it is DEFINITELY worth cleaning up with a bit of MAAS polish and have it honed up (or hone it yourself).

Well, you got the good news on the Kropp razor and I think there is good news for your other razor too. Could not tell you who made it, others with more knowledge will, but I'd bet it is a Sheffield made razor and as such would be a quality razor also. I think both are worth cleaning up and having honed to shave ready.

Bob

Your boxes don't match the razors, and that's normal.

when it doubt, hone 'em out.

The kropp is easy, Looks to be about 4/8 should be a good shaver, Have a good look at the edge for chips and cracks, If you can't find any send it out to be honed.

The other razor I can't make my mind up on. I don't think it's of oriental origin. It looks very western in design. Like a wade & butcher, or joseph rodgers clone. Perhaps it's a Victorian "folly" Looks to follow the shape of a razor from 1850-1880, Horn scales. Stamped to make it appear like it came from one of the new countries. It's a very very nice razor, There is a guy on here called "phrank" who has a collection of old wedge style razors that have been restored. It might be worth asking him where he sends them because that razor when sorted would look fabulous.

There are quite a few razors like the second it seem they were made for the Chinese market. If you go the the advanced search and put Chinese Razor and search you will find out more info. There were a few makers that made razors with Chinese type markings Joseph Rodgers, Wade & Butcher, and a few more I have one that has no Makers mark but is marked with the company that was selling them

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.