My first find! I have questions... (Images)

I found this in an auctioneers in Belfast, I was so chuffed! I'm brand new to straight razor shaving and definitely to collecting. I have a TI 5/8 Le Dandy I bought new online which is what I have been learning with. I went on the hunt for a quality razor that had perhaps seen better days, so that I could practice honing and restoration work. A sort of sacrificial blade if you will. I picked this up for £11.80 including auctioneers commission so I wouldn't be too disappointed if it wasn't top quality but I'd like to know if its a suitable "sacrifice" that is capable holding of a keen edge for my honing practice, or if it's junk. If it's junk then I'll practice anyway but if it's a decent blade I might look for another sacrifice and save this one as a first restoration job. I'd love to hear from the gurus and get some insight into my new razor!

The pictures aren't great but:

The box (coffin?) it came in says "Hamburg Ring", "Solingen", "Made in Germany". I know there are some fakes going out there that are made elsewhere, assembled in Solingen and then branded, but this box seems old.

The blade etching reads: "The Hamburg Ring", "TRY ME".

The shank etching reads: "Joseph Elliot's", "Best Silver Steel", "Sheffield Eng.".

There is no etching anywhere else on the razor.

I'm not sure of the scale material but I don't think they are plastic. A family member think its ebony but I am not so sure.

Any help or comments would be appreciated! Let me know if it was worth the buy and if it is more suitable as a sacrifice (honing practice) or saved as a future restoration job.

Looks like a winner to me. The scales are most likely celluloid but could be vulcanite (basically hard rubber) or could be dark horn though I doubt it.

I would vote for Vulcanite on those scales.

That should be a great shaver.

looks like a clean and a pro hone and you are off to the races

I think you did well to pick that razor up. It looks like the real deal and not a fake of any sort. It appears to be in good condition needing very little work to clean it up. There looks to be some corrosion on the bevel which may take a little extra work bevel setting on the hones to remove but it should hone up nicely after that.

I don't think it falls anywhere near the junk category so you may want to clean it up yourself and have it professionally honed instead of using it as a honing sacrifice.

Bob

I have a couple of Joseph Elliot razors and they are all sound. Good savers and seem to hold a edge for a long time. Nice score and definitely worth the money

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mcgaz89

I found this in an auctioneers in Belfast, I was so chuffed! I'm brand new to straight razor shaving and definitely to collecting. I have a TI 5/8 Le Dandy I bought new online which is what I have been learning with. I went on the hunt for a quality razor that had perhaps seen better days, so that I could practice honing and restoration work. A sort of sacrificial blade if you will. I picked this up for £11.80 including auctioneers commission so I wouldn't be too disappointed if it wasn't top quality but I'd like to know if its a suitable "sacrifice" that is capable holding of a keen edge for my honing practice, or if it's junk. If it's junk then I'll practice anyway but if it's a decent blade I might look for another sacrifice and save this one as a first restoration job. I'd love to hear from the gurus and get some insight into my new razor!

The pictures aren't great but:

The box (coffin?) it came in says "Hamburg Ring", "Solingen", "Made in Germany". I know there are some fakes going out there that are made elsewhere, assembled in Solingen and then branded, but this box seems old.

The blade etching reads: "The Hamburg Ring", "TRY ME".

The shank etching reads: "Joseph Elliot's", "Best Silver Steel", "Sheffield Eng.".

There is no etching anywhere else on the razor.

I'm not sure of the scale material but I don't think they are plastic. A family member think its ebony but I am not so sure.

Any help or comments would be appreciated! Let me know if it was worth the buy and if it is more suitable as a sacrifice (honing practice) or saved as a future restoration job.

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It's no fake. I think I have one somewhere. I have also seen them on eBay.

Nice score, should clean up well. Too good to sacrifice. Hard to tell from pics, but little to no hone wear, some damage on the edge. could end up a superb shaver. Some better pics of the edge may help. That thumbnail is definitely a fake. ;)

Very nice Sir :)....May you have many more finds as good as this !!
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Thanks for the input everyone! Looks like I'll be keeping this as my first restoration job. Off to try and find a honing practice sacrifice.