Thread: Any info on the Premier Lifetime Professional X98?

This is my first straight razor purchase. I'm not an expert in the slightest but, it appeared to be an old girl (Premier Life Time Professional X98) The blade states that it is made in Germany. The only info I found was a small fragment on an old forum in the dark recesses of the internet (correct me if you know more). Premier was a company based out of NY that sold straight razors made in Germany for their company from 1900s-50ish. Does anyone have any information that would help me alone with this?

Note: I paid $50 for the blade. It appears to be in almost unused condition to my novice eyes. What do you think?

Time to lather and take it for a test drive. Give us a report on how well it shaves. Can you post a closeup picture of the tang stamp.

That's the photos I have. I'm awaiting my local barber for the honing and my strop next week. Pretty excited to give it a try. All I've had to go on thus far is my Parker shavette.

Have no idea about the company but do recall seeing Premier branded knives for sale in hardware stores here later than the 1950s. Somehow wound up with two Lifetime Premier razors with one saying "Hand Forged In Sheffield England" and the other is a Solingen made blade iirc. Both are good shavers.

Bob

Looks like a great buy to me

Originally Posted by BobH

Have no idea about the company but do recall seeing Premier branded knives for sale in hardware stores here later than the 1950s. Somehow wound up with two Lifetime Premier razors with one saying "Hand Forged In Sheffield England" and the other is a Solingen made blade iirc. Both are good shavers.

Bob

I appreciate the information and am even happier that your two Premier's are good blades to shave with. How about the price, did I pay too much?

It is hard to tell much with shop branded straight razors. There were a lot of companies that bought blades from Germany and sold them in other countries, in this case the US. At that time there were many many cutlers running shops in Germany. They turned out some pretty top shelf razors. One of the signs of a better razor is three pin scales. They are the ones that someone spent a little extra time on and are usually a bit more likely to be a cut above the rest. It is a very nice looking razor for sure, and likely to be from a very reputable manufacturer. I think you will be very happy.

I wish I had 1 :<0) Not supposed to value razors so I will say if your happy with it you got a good deal. In the end that's all that matters right ?

Originally Posted by Glory

I appreciate the information and am even happier that your two Premier's are good blades to shave with. How about the price, did I pay too much?

My answer to that would be the same as 10pups. For what it is worth I believe you got a quality razor, imho, for less that a brand new current made production razor of the same size would run you. Get someone who knows what they are doing to put a good edge on her and enjoy it.

Bob

Originally Posted by RezDog

It is hard to tell much with shop branded straight razors. There were a lot of companies that bought blades from Germany and sold them in other countries, in this case the US. At that time there were many many cutlers running shops in Germany. They turned out some pretty top shelf razors. One of the signs of a better razor is three pin scales. They are the ones that someone spent a little extra time on and are usually a bit more likely to be a cut above the rest. It is a very nice looking razor for sure, and likely to be from a very reputable manufacturer. I think you will be very happy.

I understand what you mean. I own a Sears & Roebuck Mod. 54 .30-30 which is essentially a Winchester Model 94, just made for Sears. I'm learning a little more everyday.