Thread: Vintage Grelot Modification(s) or not.

Hi folks, I found&talked a razor&hone master today, when we were talking about modifying Ralf Austs, then he said he has a vintage 6/8 Le Grelot Hospital with wooden scales (1st pic). He even sent me a crappy photo with his phone. He said I am looking for an *antique tip* razor (as he calls it) which is bottom half of the tip is little protruded and rounded than the top side as shown(2nd pic from his web page), he says that razor is his personal razor, I forgot his SR's brand because I never heard that brand before. He said he could make any modification I want on the tip. he will change the scales to tortoise imitation too.

This will be my very first SR, I've considered antique or notched tips because the hardest part for me is shaping under the nose above the goatee area, especially between the nostrils spot with the shavettes I am currenly using, without success.

On the other hand, re-shaping a vintage razor bugs my conscience a bit, but my logic says go ahead this could be a only life time chance for me. I am thinking maybe even he could carve a thumb notchh on the tang too, but this would be too far I guess.

Now what do you think folks? First of all, is this razor looks like genuine vintage Le Gralot, and what about modifications?
(1-Antiuqe tip, 2-tortoise scales, 3-thumb notch)
should I have him done such thing(s) to this razor?


Pics:
1-SR I am planning to purchase, and
2-His personal antique tip SR in his hands, we are planning a similar or maybe longer tip grind .

Ask for better photos of the razor, hard to determine condition or what it is. Scales are easy enough to swap out, but never been a fan of reshaping vintage razors unless they are chipped or broken.

There appears to be two different razors in the photos. The top photo is a new production and the bottom is vintage.

Originally Posted by cbaytan

Pics:
1-SR I am planning to purchase, and
2-His personal antique tip SR in his hands, we are planning a similar or maybe longer tip grind .

If I am understanding correctly the vintage razor belongs to him, and is shown as an example ? A point such as that is known as a Spanish point. It is not uncommon, even on current production razors. I happen to be very partial to Spanish and notched points. I am also partial to thumb notches. Were I to have a custom razor made I would definitely go for those options, and tortoise scales are nice too, though I prefer ivory.

The first razor is a modern production marketed by "Rasoir-Sabre" : Rasoir LE GRELOT" RENOMMEE MONDIALE" 6/8 bois de bocote.
The second is vintage.

No reshaping needed, you have to teach yourself to shave in these areas, for me lifting the tip on the nose works very well with all razors.

My opinion?

Once you buy the razor, it's yours and you do with it whatever makes you happy!

I've got this today, I guess it's a differen razor, I'll talk to him tomorrow and aski him why he sent me a different razor rom the picture, scales renewed to imitation tortoise, custom tip also, I asked him round the bottom part and cut the top half of the tip as much as possible (for under the nose safety), now it looks like a barbers notch, honed, if you think this is good for like $125 I'll keep it, do you think it is a vintage non-carbon
razor?

Valuations are not allowed here. All I will say is that the blade looks like it has been sanded with fairly coarse sandpaper. I think I would send it back and ask for a refund.

I agree with Kees! Do you mean "stainless" instead of non carbon? All steel has carbon in it.