Thread: Bismarck 502

Thanks for your help

An old Thread but the 502 on the first Page remindes me off my newest Bismarck, a 02 (stamped on the tang) with a 39 on the Tail.
The Spine is designed just like the actual No.2 Blankets but it has a french head. Size is 13/16"+.

i absolutely love the design on these bismarks .
i have found them to require more attention when stroping ,probably because of the thumb notch

I agree with you, the thumb notch makes it a bit more difficult to strop. I guess its the smaller tang at the Notch that makes it a bit more difficult to hold instead of the standard tang razors. It took some time until i got used to, although i think that the Bismarck has more a moderate thumb notch, there are more complicated razors.

Nice Bismarck @Rockabillyhelge. I have a newer Dovo Bismarck and they are lovely razors.

As far as I have been able to tell all original Bismarck razors (pre 193x). Have similar characteristics.

Some have the monkey tail stamp, either registered or ges geschützt.
All of the inlays in the scales are Bismarck registered or ges geschützt.
There are very few razors that have odd grinds. Hollow, Round point rarely a square point, Nice jimps small defined almost sharp feeling. 3/8 - 6/8.
The boxes are black with the old style label. With Wiesbaden devices.
Some use Sheffield steel and have marks that indicate this.

1957 dovo Fritz Bracht era razors are far more varied.

They have Bismarck Solingen scale inlays.
They have number stamps on the tang.
They come in a Black box card box with either the old label, or a revised green label with a similar design.
Modern style introduced, But also a huge variety of odd sizes and shapes. 7/8 introduced, Square points, extra hollow and some fancy spines.
Jimps from this point on are often softer, wider and not as deep.

1970's era

Plastic box (normally blue)
Old style Bismarck box label generally in green.
Scales become varied. The cheapest end we see a screen printed Bismarck super tag on plastic, Others may use Bismarck Solingen as an inlay.
Modern style still in production, but also more classic 5/8 styles.

1990's

Only 1 Bismarck blank in production.

The period between the 1930's and the 1957 buy out is odd. We see a few Bismarck works, and generally odd razors from what I can only assume to be this period. I'm not sure who made them, and where they were ground since the mark shouldn't be in use according to the mark information.

rarreola your 502 is a 1957-1970 era razor. Made under Fritz Bracht's ownership. It'll be fantastic.

I might not be 100% with the time line but it's as close as I've been able to work out with the limited information I have on them.

The Wiesbaden device features the Kurhaus.

Great info Iceni, thanks.