if you type rasiermesser into auction site, there appear to be many lovely looking swedish blades going cheap with no bids on them.. Is there a good reason for this? Or do people just search for sheffield or solingen for no good reason. Seem to be all sorts, frame backs, wedges etc.
I get mostly German razors when I type 'rasiermesser' into Ebay(I assume that's the site you're referring to) which makes sense since it's German for Straight razor(Sweden=/=Germany).
If you're as new to this as your account is old, I wouldn't be surprised if your standard for looking lovely is a lot lower than mine, no offence meant by that, it's just the nature of getting more and more experienced and learning what to look for and what to avoid in a razor.
maybe have a look. all seem to be one seller upon closer inspection. and yes tis ebay. You are probably right. am that inexperienced.
Watch the bids go up now!
Maybe because a lot of those Swedish blades are quite small ? Meaning 5/8" at most. A lot of folks here seem to prefer 6/8" and wider (I'm also guilty there).
Also, you will not see a decent Heljestrand go without a serious bidding war!
also on there a bengall cast steel. These any good?
not to mention a lot of razors jump in the last 20seconds ..
Sssh, you're revealing my source of cheap straights...
got one, think need to block ebay on my computer. is addictive.
You just had to say something lol now all the prices are going to go up.
I was assuming there must be a good reason that i wasn't aware of. Will be fighting with you over them now. Sorry.
at this point in my collecting I have to stop and assess the collection. I have so many half finished and started but not finished project it is tough to get any more on the bench.
Indeed. When I ordered my Mk32, I was expecting a 6/8, not a toothpick. Decent razor, but tiny.Quote:
Originally Posted by decraew
That depends, I should say. The really tiny ones, ie Mk31 and less, can easily be had for $40 or less.Quote:
Originally Posted by decraew
Cadman/Bengall razors are actually quite excellent. And completely underrated. One of your safest bets to get an affordable 6/8 hollow grind made in Sheffield. If you find a proxy in AU or NZ, you will easily get one in excellent condition for less than $40 shipped. Thank the British army, if memory serves me right.Quote:
Originally Posted by dmnc
Coincidentally, Cadman Bengalls seem to have been immensely popular in Sweden. So much so, that Borlänge Maskinaffär had a line of Bengall branded razors.Quote:
Originally Posted by RobinK
What exactly the deal was there I don't know, my guess is an operation independent from Cadman & Sons. But I may be wrong and the Borlänge Maskinaffär might possibly have had some franchising/licensing deal going on with Cadman & Sons.
Maybe some of the more knowledgeable Eskilstuna experts can shed some light on this.
That is very true, Pithor. I have a number of cast steel horn handled Bengalls from Sweden, bearing the names of several high-end stores.
You find the same with a few German Solingen-made blades stocked by high class stores in Sweden, as well as other prestigious Sheffield razors - I had an equisite ivory scaled samuel Osborn (of the Clyde Steel Works) 7 day set, acid etched with the days of the week in Swedish and made from Robert Mushet's Special Steel (Osborn bought the patent from Mushet, employing his men to teach him the process, the championing it over most of the known world).
It is clear to me that Swedes know well what makes a thoroughly decent razor, and they put their money where their mouths are, at least in the past.
Rdgards,
Neil
Yes, I have a few "Äkta Bengall" razors(two of them have the Borlänge stamp) as well as a few 1840's Cast steel Bengalls in Horn.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pithor
When I started using Straights the only razors you could find on Tradera were either Swedish or made by Bengall but now it's a bit more varied, I guess the new variety is because more people have started using straights here and they're selling razors that they bought from sellers in other countries.