The Puma....

Not that I really need another straight razor...even though I'm sort of trying to 'build' an interesting 7-day set (I'll use that as an 'excuse') - but I came across this, to me, neat looking Puma razor with box and picked it up for $13.

Now, just because it was inexpensive doesn't make it a good deal so I'm curious to hear if anyone here have any first-hand experience with the brand - and maybe with the same razor?

Nowhere neat mint but I'm hoping it'll be a in good user-condition and/or can be easily restored to shave-ready.

http://i60.tinypic.com/29gfpmg.jpg

http://i58.tinypic.com/10igbvn.jpg

Looks like it would clean up fairly nicely, you'd probably loose what is left of the gold wash though, and Pumas do have a good reputation to boot. I'd look at it like I had paid for the case and got the razor thrown in free from where I sit, good deal.

Bob

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Originally Posted by BobH

Looks like it would clean up fairly nicely, you'd probably loose what is left of the gold wash though, and Pumas do have a good reputation to boot. I'd look at it like I had paid for the case and got the razor thrown in free from where I sit, good deal.

Bob

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Thanks - yeah looks like someone took some steel wool or something to the middle of that blade.
Hopefully it'll take an edge though..and yes, I do like that case :)

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Originally Posted by Darkbulb

Thanks - yeah looks like someone took some steel wool or something to the middle of that blade.
Hopefully it'll take an edge though..and yes, I do like that case :)

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Too bad they did that to the blade. If there is not a lot of rust on the gold wash, you might want to consider taping it over with painters tape and carefully clean around it. That should at least preserve what is left of it.

I am sure it will take an edge although you might have to hone past what looks like some slight edge corrosion first. Yea, I like the cases too. So much so that I bought a Puma case locally for my only Puma razor. The cases are different enough ftom the rest of the heard that a Puma SR seems incomplete without one, to me anyway.

Bob

To answer your question Puma's have a great reputation in general. There are quite a few models available and one could easily focus on collecting Pumas. If you do not hone you can easily send your new Puma out to one of our resident honers. I think you will have a pleasant surprise when it comes back home to you. You did well with your purchase.

Thanks - yeah, sending it out is the plan.
Now I'm trying to find some sort of 'product/model number chart' of Puma razors to see if I can date this model #39 one to at least the correct decade :)

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Originally Posted by Darkbulb

Thanks - yeah, sending it out is the plan.
Now I'm trying to find some sort of 'product/model number chart' of Puma razors to see if I can date this model #39 one to at least the correct decade :)

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The scales are replacements, how close the blade still is to 5/8 will give an indication of wear. The logo being stamped on the tang would make 1950s-'60s what I would bet for age. It says Puma Steel on the reverse tang, not Puma Stahl, which I've seen on earlier models. Sometime in the '70s they started putting a rubber sleeve on the tang, and only etched the name/model # on the blade. Those old Pumas are some of the best shavers money can buy, so you did well.

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

The scales are replacements, how close the blade still is to 5/8 will give an indication of wear. The logo being stamped on the tang would make 1950s-'60s what I would bet for age. It says Puma Steel on the reverse tang, not Puma Stahl, which I've seen on earlier models. Sometime in the '70s they started putting a rubber sleeve on the tang, and only etched the name/model # on the blade. Those old Pumas are some of the best shavers money can buy, so you did well.

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Thanks - great info!

Things seem to go in and out of fashion. Several years ago Puma's were looked at the same way those Spanish razors (Monserrat) are looked at now. These days you don't hear much about them but they are at the top of the heap, none better.

I've got 3 Pumas all great shavers.. You did very well..

So the Puma arrived today and it wasn't quite as roaring as I had imagined it to be.

The, I guess, replacement scales were rather...hm, "visually unappealing" in person and the razor just looked a bit more drab and battered than I had hoped for.

http://i59.tinypic.com/21n1p4p.jpg

Some 'jagged' corrosion on the edge, towards the toe...
http://i59.tinypic.com/2nu8o4.jpg

http://i57.tinypic.com/szv37q.jpg


As much as it pains me to spend 15-or-so dollars on something that, I must admit, I will probably not do anything with (clean, hone and new scales doesn't quite seem justified for this piece of steel). It'll probably spend its life in its wooden box until the end of the year where I will try to recoup those dollars from selling it to someone who can give it a [better] home.

Cheers.

http://i59.tinypic.com/oumhhg.jpg