Any info on this vintage razor?

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08-12-2015, 01:47 AM
JackSprat

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Any info on this vintage razor?

I got this for $5 at a junk shop along with the hone, neither of which I can find much information about. The razor has no lettering other than "Cocotero No. 5" which wasn't helpful when googling. I wonder if the box is mismatched.

If the razor is any good I'd like to use this hone on it. Is that a good idea? Any idea what grit(s) it might be?

Any info would be appreciated.

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08-12-2015, 01:56 AM
sharptonn

Oh Wow! That Norton hone is a real good one, I understand. Hard to find. The razor is not original to the box, yet both seem good.

I would say you are very safe there. You shall hear a bit more, yet keep in mind.
08-12-2015, 02:00 AM
ChopperDave

Nice catch! Do you have experience honing razors? That edge is gonna need some help...
08-12-2015, 02:08 AM
JackSprat

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChopperDave

Nice catch! Do you have experience honing razors? That edge is gonna need some help...

I've never honed a razor, but I can I put a nice edge on my knives. I'll look into the tutorials here before I go after the razor. I just don't want to put a lot of effort into it if it's a low-quality blade to begin with.
08-12-2015, 02:09 AM
yaguarete79

It looks like a "Palmera" straight razor. At another forum, a Spanish forum actually, somebody said palmeras were made by both Filarmónica and/or a German brand. A great straight razor in any case. That's what I could find but never saw one in person. I hope I'm not misleading you.
08-12-2015, 02:14 AM
ChopperDave

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackSprat

I've never honed a razor, but I can I put a nice edge on my knives. I'll look into the tutorials here before I go after the razor. I just don't want to put a lot of effort into it if it's a low-quality blade to begin with.

I noticed uneven hone wear on the spine. That, combined with a hone that may require some experience may make it difficult to hone. Be careful, you can take a lot of metal off a blade and still not get a shave ready edge... I'm learning this the hard way. lol
08-12-2015, 02:28 AM
JimmyHAD

I'm not sure if you've hit the jackpot or not, but that may be one of the Australian axemen's favorite hones. If it is they bring crazy prices on Aus-ebay. Here is a link to a thread describing one as red on one side, black on the other, with Norton in an oval. Well maybe it was also made with the logo in a square, or rectangle ? Anyway ...... read this thread through if you're interested ;
http://straightrazorpalace.com/show-...ghlight=axemen
08-12-2015, 02:28 AM
BobH

Looks like a quality razor to me. I'd guess it was made for the Spanish speaking market considering the trade mark name means coconut tree in English. If you can find who owned that trade mark you will find the maker.

Bob
08-12-2015, 02:38 AM
sharptonn

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I'm not sure if you've hit the jackpot or not, but that may be one of the Australian axemen's favorite hones. If it is they bring crazy prices on Aus-ebay. Here is a link to a thread describing one as red on one side, black on the other, with Norton in an oval. Well maybe it was also made with the logo in a square, or rectangle ? Anyway ...... read this thread through if you're interested ;
http://straightrazorpalace.com/show-...ghlight=axemen

Was not going to say that, but I feel same. Despite any other options, I think the OP can get it going and maintain it forever with that rock and a good strop. Nice pile!
08-12-2015, 02:43 AM
JackSprat

Quote:

Originally Posted by yaguarete79

It looks like a "Palmera" straight razor. At another forum, a Spanish forum actually, somebody said palmeras were made by both Filarmónica and/or a German brand. A great straight razor in any case. That's what I could find but never saw one in person. I hope I'm not misleading you.

It looks like this may be it, thanks!
08-12-2015, 02:48 AM
JackSprat

Quote:

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Was not going to say that, but I feel same. Despite any other options, I think the OP can get it going and maintain it forever with that rock and a good strop. Nice pile!

Having no experience with razors but plenty with knives and woodworking tools, would you recommend sending it out to a pro to make it shave ready, or give it a shot myself? There's so little metal on it, I'm worried I'll ruin it without realizing. :-)
08-12-2015, 02:49 AM
sharptonn

Surely the prize is the hone, The razor appears quite nice as well.
My advise would be to send the razor to a good honist here. Get a benchmark blade, Get another and read about, use, and get to know that stone as well as a good strop.
08-12-2015, 02:50 AM
Wolfpack34

The Norton Co. purchased the Pike company in 1932. The hone you have (which is labeled Pike) was inventory that was re-boxed in a Norton box and sold. I have the exact hone with the same box. The later versions of this hones formula were labeled 'Norton' as Jimmy mentions above, and is highly prized. IMO they are the same hone...I have both and cannot tell the difference. In the top 5 of Barber Hones/Razor hones IMO.
08-12-2015, 02:52 AM
JackSprat

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfpack34

The Norton Co. purchased the Pike company in 1932. The hone you have (which is labeled Pike) was inventory that was re-boxed in a Norton box and sold. I have the exact hone with the same box. The later versions of this hones formula were labeled 'Norton' as Jimmy mentions above, and is highly prized. IMO they are the same hone...I have both and cannot tell the difference. In the top 5 of Barber Hones/Razor hones IMO.

Great info, thanks.

Do you know if these are used with oil, water, nothing? Also, both sides are so smooth I can't tell which is the "rough" side...
08-12-2015, 03:01 AM
sharptonn

Geez. I think the labeled side is always the finest? Would be the black?
08-12-2015, 03:05 AM
JimmyHAD

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackSprat

Great info, thanks.

Do you know if these are used with oil, water, nothing? Also, both sides are so smooth I can't tell which is the "rough" side...

I wouldn't use that hone until I was really an accomplished honer. If it is indeed the Aus axeman's hone, it is purported to be a great razor hone, as well as an axe hone. That is a once in a lifetime find. Use easily replaceable hones until you've got the skills to use that without wasting it. IMHO.

As Tom (Sharptonn) said, send the razor out for pro honing. Knife sharpening is a totally different kangaroo.
08-12-2015, 09:18 AM
WW243

Quote:

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Surely the prize is the hone, The razor appears quite nice as well.
My advise would be to send the razor to a good honist here. Get a benchmark blade, Get another and read about, use, and get to know that stone as well as a good strop.

You said honist.
08-12-2015, 02:43 PM
JackSprat

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I wouldn't use that hone until I was really an accomplished honer. If it is indeed the Aus axeman's hone, it is purported to be a great razor hone, as well as an axe hone. That is a once in a lifetime find. Use easily replaceable hones until you've got the skills to use that without wasting it. IMHO.

As Tom (Sharptonn) said, send the razor out for pro honing. Knife sharpening is a totally different kangaroo.

That sounds like good advice.
08-13-2015, 12:07 AM
engine46

If you want to try & hone it yourself, get another razor to practice with before you attempt to hone that one. If not then send it out to a pro to hone it. When I first took a look at that hone, it looks like one of the good ones to me!
08-13-2015, 12:30 AM
JackSprat

Everyone seems to like the hone a lot... what makes it so good? Is it rare or just very good at honing razors? Why should a beginner like me avoid using it until I'm better at honing?
08-13-2015, 12:36 AM
engine46

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackSprat

Everyone seems to like the hone a lot... what makes it so good? Is it rare or just very good at honing razors? Why should a beginner like me avoid using it until I'm better at honing?

Honing takes practice & it's best to use a decent razor that isn't as important to you, like one you could pick up off eBay real cheap or at a flea market or wherever & you need to practice with it until you can get one to shave. You just can't get it down the first couple of times, it takes practice.
08-13-2015, 12:37 AM
ChopperDave

It would be like giving a teenager a 57 Corvette for their first car.

Don't mean to compare you to that... If it were me, I would put that hone aside, get a synthetic set to learn on and work my way up to it.
08-13-2015, 12:50 AM
JackSprat

For those interested, the hone in this post is NOT the famous Norton axeman's hone that sells for so much money, at least according to these two posts -

Old Norton combination oil stone
http://straightrazorpalace.com/hones...azor-hone.html

It does look awfully similar though.
08-13-2015, 01:00 AM
JimmyHAD

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfpack34

The Norton Co. purchased the Pike company in 1932. The hone you have (which is labeled Pike) was inventory that was re-boxed in a Norton box and sold. I have the exact hone with the same box. The later versions of this hones formula were labeled 'Norton' as Jimmy mentions above, and is highly prized. IMO they are the same hone...I have both and cannot tell the difference. In the top 5 of Barber Hones/Razor hones IMO.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackSprat

Everyone seems to like the hone a lot... what makes it so good? Is it rare or just very good at honing razors? Why should a beginner like me avoid using it until I'm better at honing?

Well I've never had one so I don't know what makes it so good. I know you can buy real good hones all day long that will get your razors sharp, and keep them sharp. You can't find a hone that goes for between $500-$750 USD every day, on the rare occasions they surface on ebay. If it is one of those I'd either keep it in a gun safe or start it on ebay at a dollar and watch the fun.
08-13-2015, 01:37 AM
engine46

Quote:

Originally Posted by WW243

You said honist.

Yep, an honest honist!

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackSprat

Everyone seems to like the hone a lot... what makes it so good? Is it rare or just very good at honing razors? Why should a beginner like me avoid using it until I'm better at honing?

Yep! I would follow Wolfpack's opinion he posted above since he has one.