Thread: Unusual (?) Torrey

I just spotted this razor in a shop, and hope that someone can help me decide whether I should grab it.

There's no etching other than the show side of the tang. I didn't measure it, but I'd start that it's real close to an 7/8. It's the corrosion at the edge problematic?

grab it. If you don't want it send it to me!

Originally Posted by RezDog

grab it. If you don't want it send it to me!

But what is it?!!?

If it were me and the price is right grab it.

Torrey was a mfg of razors in Mass, USA. Late 19th, early 20th century. Good razors. The corrosion at the edge may be a problem in that you'll have to hone past it to get to good steel. Depends on how deep pitting is. Pitting in a bevel will begin to fall apart as you hone. Kinda looks like swiss cheese if it is deep. Once you get past it to good steel it is honeable. Trouble is, if it is too deep, too high up from bevel up the blade you'll never get there. The point would have to be upswept to get to good steel for sure from the picture. So look to lose a certain amount on the blade width, and a lot of work unless you're lucky.

I think it would need a lot of work for the toe. Looks like there's been some pitting there, or the steel is starting to crumble.
You'd need to breadknife it on a hone of 4k or less.

So, it turns out that the mysterious Torrey isn't all that mysterious after all. It's an example of Torrey's Whip Line of lower priced razors, and that weird squiggle is actually a buggy whip.

According to this thread, the Whip Line razors were manufactured between around 1895 and 1917, and used the same steel as did fancier Torrey models.

I think that I'll check to see if the razor's still available, despite my concerns about corrosion.

The razor was still at the shop today, so I grabbed it after some brief haggling. It measures a full 7/8ths, has a snug pivot and the scales are in good shape.

I see some shiny metal at the toe after a few passes on my barber hone, especially on the show side. So I'm a little bit encouraged.

It should hone up ok, it may take a little paying attention

Torreys are prob my fav US made razor... I think it will clean well with some care and love!