and honed it up to shave with . It is stamped "Old Democrat" on one side of the tang , and "Joliet B. S. Co. , Joliet , Ill. , M. I. Germany" on the other side . The blade is 5/8 deep hollow grind , with a blued tang and spine . The scales have a faux wood grain pattern and I think it may be celluloid . The razor is in excellent condition with NO rust . I stroped it and did my 8th str8 razor shave with it . This razor gave me a great shave , I must be doing something right . I also have two other razors I use . Both were made in Eskiltuna , Sweden , one was made by C. V. Heljestrand and the other was made by W. Soderen & Co. . Both are good shavers but I like the Old Democrat best .