Thread: JA Henckels Zwillingswerk 472

I have been interested in acquiring a Henckels for a while and decided to go for one I saw on the bay. This particular model (I'll attach photos as soon as it arrives) I thought rather special, it has lovely scrolling along the spine from nose to pivot. Does anybody have any knowledge of these razors, such as when they were produced and if they are of good quality?

P.S what is the difference between a Zwillingswerk 472 and a Friodur 472???

Images from seller:

'Zwillingswerk' is German and is the designation of Henckels made for the non-English speaking market whereas "Twinworks' is to denote the opposite.
They translate the same. Friodur indicates stainless steel and, in it's absence, carbon steel is the material.

AFAIK, the 472 with it's lovely spine decoration was a product seemingly made primarily for export to Japan, as many are coming out of there these days.

A nice razor, I own one. I think they are from the 60's/70's.

You should not regret the purchase!

I have the Friodur 472 and love it. You won't be disappointed at all!

Very nice razors and they are excellent shavers!

I also have one of the Friodur 472s that came out of Japan. One of my favorite razors.

Originally Posted by TomP30

I have been interested in acquiring a Henckels for a while and decided to go for one I saw on the bay. This particular model (I'll attach photos as soon as it arrives) I thought rather special, it has lovely scrolling along the spine from nose to pivot. Does anybody have any knowledge of these razors, such as when they were produced and if they are of good quality?

P.S what is the difference between a Zwillingswerk 472 and a Friodur 472???

They were made for the Japanese market. The Friodur version is stainless steel, the Zwillingwork version is carbon. Both top notch shavers.

I have one and found it easier to get sharp than other stainless models. The workmanship looks top notch on mine.
I tried to translate Friodur without success, it is surely stainless, but must not be a common German word.

Friodur seems to be the process of ice-hardening the steel,