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Today was my first shave with vintage American steel. Got this 6/8 H. M. Christensen from Obie who told me it had a great edge and he wasn't kidding.
It feels lighter than my Aust 6/8 but was a little easier for me to use. It surprised me with a very smooth and close shave.
http://i.imgur.com/tFO55Cn.jpg
American razors take a great edge alright, and that is a nice looking one. Seems you won't be running out of shave soap for a while either. :)
Grazor,
Before the holidays, I actually used half of that brick to enable a few guys who've used nothing but cartridges all their lives. We got together last night for dinner and they have taken the initiative to explore blade samplers, brushes and Fat Boys. That was such a pleasant surprise. :)
I have two in the Den from my Grandfather the Italian Barber- via Dad -
Another I picked up and cleaned/honed is with my Brother as part of the set I gave Him to get started.
Great shavers that deserve a spot in any Shave Den...
Nice razor, got a couple of them myself, one is the twin to yours, great shavers. Also have a couple Torrey's, one was NOS with case & paperwork, a J. Wiss & Sons, Genco Expert & a Genco Easy Aces, all great shaving razors.
You would be surprised just how good American razors are. What is really surprising is you can still pick up some good old American (quality) made razors at not too expensive prices compare to some Sheffield and German made razors.
Interesting razor. The name suggests that the maker is a Danish immigrant. Can anyone share a light on this?
All I know is that the razor carries a Massachusetts stamp. :) perhaps one of the more knowledgeable guys here can say more about this brand.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kristian
DoughBoy,Quote:
Originally Posted by DoughBoy68
I kept hearing good things about Torrey so I sought one out and found a 6/8 in very good shape. I acquired it before Christmas but I told the seller to ship after the New Year instead. It should get to me in a couple of weeks. :)
Some information on this thread: http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...ristensen.htmlQuote:
Originally Posted by KarloT
http://straightrazorpalace.com/misce...ow-what-2.html
FWIW - my face can't tell the diff. between the feel of a Soligen blade or a US blade. 'Both quite satisfying.
Sheffield, US or Soligen, can anyone tell the difference in a blind test do you suppose?
I'll throw in Spanish, Swedish, Japanese and French to make it interesting and bet no you couldn't tell the difference in a blind test.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pringr
Bob
Looks like you gt a winner.Quote:
Originally Posted by KarloT
re: Torrey - I bought a 8/16 a couple of years ago and it is one of those silent, smooth shavers, asy to maintain. I like it a lot. Stumbled on a 13/16 notched Torrey on Dec. 24 for a song; scales and pins perfect, the edge undamaged and the top third mostly rust. After a few hours of sanding, buffing, polishing, honing and stropping it revealed itself a great razor from shave #1. I hope you enjoy yours, too!
Bob is right. A fine edge on good steel cuts well and generally gives about the same comfort on a shave. That's why so much on SRP is devoted to getting the right edge and maintaining it.Quote:
Originally Posted by BobH
Among my favorite Sheffield and Solingen razors are several humble American made Torreys, Gencos, an H. M. Christensen, and even a couple Electric Cutlerys, just to name a few.
Where it starts feeling different is the blade size and configuration. Wedge vs Full Hollow, 5/8 vs 15/16, Spanish vs French point, smiling etc. I also notice a difference is steel manufacture obviously when honing. Carbon, Stainless, etc. These things start getting in to personal preference.
My bottom line is my favorite razor is a quality razor!
American razors are very under rated. One of the best shavers I ever had was a Shumate Ben Hur.
My genco grant, robeson shuredge, wester bros., and torrey shave as well as anything in my modest collection and better than most. American steel rocks!
Yes, American razors tend to be under rated/appreciated for some reason unknown to me. The ones I have shave as well as any others in my rotation. Wouldn't hesitate to buy another one that I liked the looks of.
Bob
That is an oldie made by HMC from 1889-1916 in Brockton. The company was then sold and moved to New Bedford.
I have had both, but prefer the old ones. Nice blade!
Here is the tang stamp from New Bedford.
Attachment 189621
Thanks for sharing that picture! I came across some posts that suggested these were made in Germany and imported or finished in the US. Given the metalworking tradition in New England at the time, I had a strong hunch that these were more likely American made.Quote:
Originally Posted by sharptonn
The more I use it, the more I like it.
Well, Christensen was a big hardware dealer back when. I like to think the older ones before 1916 were made there in Mass. I have found no info to the contrary.
After he sold out, no telling where they came from but the later blades, while quite good, look sort of generic compared to the older ones. Still, lots of American makers produced razors and knives for hardware concerns throughout the country with names stamped, so who knows?
This is my only one, a Burrell Top Flight, which shaves like a champ. It is in my 7 day rotation and I had a great shave with it yesterday!
2 of my faves are my red imps. 1x Case 5/8 and 1x Ludo big 5/8, more like a 6/8.
For some reason I've found that I prefer the American point to a round point.
Not so much the shave when well honed...Quote:
Originally Posted by Pringr
Some (me included) believe that older US steel and modern Thiers-Issard
blades are tempered a bit harder. This difference is a do not care once the edge
is correctly honed. Modern water stones have no trouble with either.
Some older hones did better with the softer steel. The better Belgian water
stones (Coticules) do well with either. Carborundum Company, Niagara Falls NY
hones also have no problem with hardness which may account for the
move to a slightly harder temper of US blades.
The very very hard tempered steel is brittle. In the old days tempering
was an art so variability gives overlap in old blades. So what you have
is what you have...
A honemaster might tell A from B with ease.
I told my dad about starting SR shaving. He gave me his father's SR. It says Dixie Blue Steel on one side of the tang. Dixie MFG Union City GA on the other. Does anyone have any info on this razor?
,[QUOTE=sharptonn;1441085]That is an oldie made by HMC from 1889-1916 in Brockton. The company was then sold and moved to New Bedford.
I would love to find something like this. My step-father grew up in Brockton. I would love to be able to give him something like that. He would shrug it off when he opened it but I think he would love to see his home town immortalized like that. I will have to keep my eyes open here. Thank you for sharing!
I think they can still be found with enough patience. The one in my pic was bought from an SRP member and I was able to snag another one in even better shape from a restorer.Quote:
Originally Posted by tom475
I like my modern razors, but I'm loving vintage steel a bit more with every shave.
