Thread: Geo Wostenholm Doubly Carbonized IXL Razor Damascus

so I've been contemplating going around to antiques stores and trying to find razors and today i did just that and i got lucky and came across a pretty interesting piece. I was trying to hold back my excitement so i could try and talk them down on the price lol now the razor does have some rust issues, a crack in the toe and some wear on the scales. The word "Damascus Steel" is etched on the razor, originally i was thinking about sanding and polishing the razor knowing that i could lose the damascas etching but i figured i could redip her and get it back on but the problem with that is ill so the wording on it. i have seen some people put nail polish on the razors and then dip them from there but I almost have it in mind not to do anything to it. thats the reason I'm posting this is so that i can get some ideas and see if anyone has any information on this razor. Just let me know what you all think and i guess ill be going from there...
On the box it says Geo Wostenholm & Sons Doubly Carbonized IXL Razor Registered 10th Sept 1850. on the razors tang it says Registered 10th Sep 1850 IXL NO.2434

Thanks
~Fonz

So here is a better picture of the Damascas steel... I did find out something about the company, the IXL series was made by George Wostenholm it was meaning I Excell, which I thought was pretty cool... I also found a razor that is close to it in the SRP library but it's not Damascas link here

Wostenholm, George & Son "Doubly Carbonized I-XL razor " 7/8 - Straight Razor Place Library

I also found another frameback Damascas razor in the same series on eBay and the seller seems to have a pretty ridculous price on it.. I know that it's not a reflection of this razors value but again something I found interesting pic below...

Wostenholms are pretty common razors. Ive been keeping an eye out for some time for a nice doubly carbonized frameback. The one you have could probably be cleaned up and made into a decent shaver. The best place to start is to get some Maas or other metal polish and see how far you can get with hand polishing. If that doesn't do enough read up on hand sanding. Either way the active rust will have to be removed.

Originally Posted by BeJay

Wostenholms are pretty common razors. Ive been keeping an eye out for some time for a nice doubly carbonized frameback. The one you have could probably be cleaned up and made into a decent shaver. The best place to start is to get some Maas or other metal polish and see how far you can get with hand polishing. If that doesn't do enough read up on hand sanding. Either way the active rust will have to be removed.

Agreed, I just would hate to compromise the etching... I was looking into dipping it in oil and trying to get the rust off that way... I've been on a lot of forums trying to get the best approach, I also have a honemister as a neighbor, bluesman 7 so I'll be consulting with him a lot on this

Originally Posted by Dafonz6987

Agreed, I just would hate to compromise the etching... I was looking into dipping it in oil and trying to get the rust off that way... I've been on a lot of forums trying to get the best approach, I also have a honemister as a neighbor, bluesman 7 so I'll be consulting with him a lot on this

I haven't seen one that was damascus, I think that is a much rarer version but I hope you didn't pay that much for it. I really don't think you did. It could have even been an error in the listing.

No S---t. I hope they mean pesos :<0)

Originally Posted by engine46

I haven't seen one that was damascus, I think that is a much rarer version but I hope you didn't pay that much for it. I really don't think you did. It could have even been an error in the listing.

Yeah it wasn't much outta pocket so I got a great deal on the razor... What do u mean by an error in the listing?

Originally Posted by 10Pups

No S---t. I hope they mean pesos :<0)

Right? $3,500 is crazy to pay for a razor, I think they jacked up the price knowing someone might pay extra since it is a rarer razor... I have been browsing the internet checking everything I can and that's the only thing I have found that's close to what I have

LOL - you should give the one you have a quick cleaning and offer to sell it to the eBay vendor selling the one for $3,000 - offer him a deal, he can have yours for $2,000 and make another small fortune!

The Damascus etching does look different, I've had people say on other forums that it may be faux Damascus, what do you guys think?