Hi folks! I am just a bit curious about when the first stainless straight razors were made. Also, feel free to brag about your antique stainless razor. I only have a relatively new Dovo myself. Is the Dubl Duck Stainless any good?
Printable View
Hi folks! I am just a bit curious about when the first stainless straight razors were made. Also, feel free to brag about your antique stainless razor. I only have a relatively new Dovo myself. Is the Dubl Duck Stainless any good?
Like all Ducks the stainless is a great razor. I have one myself.
Most stainless razors are from the 1960s though some were made earlier.
I have a stainless steel razor that I believe was made pre WWII. I was lucky enough to pick up a second one too.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/show-...berson-co.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_...tainless_steel
Bob
I think it is safe to say that there are none before 1900.
Possibly the oldest would be 1911 by Elwood Haynes who was tired of his razors rusting and starting playing with SS specifically for razors.
Interesting. Thanks for the info!Quote:
Originally Posted by criswilson10
George Ibberson's Sheffield are the only old vintage stainless I've seen, guessing 1920's. There could be others. Stainless steel was discovered in Sheffield in 1913 by Harry Brearley.
SGMT - Harry Brearley: The man who discovered stainless steel
Here is an interesting take on who invented stainless steel.
When was stainless steel discovered?-Jaway Steel Corporation
The oldest "production" stainless steel razors that I have seen are the George Ibberson ones made of Firth stainless steel. The two I have take a fine edge and shave well. Then again so do all the other stainless steel razors that I have.
Bob
Thanks Bob! That is the first time that I have seen an article that really partially uncovers the subject beyond the much later claimants.
~Richard
You are welcome. I have come to the conclusion that about the only thing definite you can say about the origins of stainless steel is that it is about 100+ years old. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Geezer
Bob
You have to be careful cause there really is no such thing as "stainless Steel". It's really a series between Nickel Steel and Chrome Steel and can have all kinds of trace materials in it so I would guess the stuff from 1910 is radically different from the stuff from the 1960s.
It's kind of like years ago people referred to their refrigerator as a "frigidaire" even though that's a brand only.
I think it looks like that several formulas were around earlier, but that none were particularly successful until about 1910-1920.
As far as the phrase "stainless steel" (or rustless steel) I don't only think "stainless" is vague. "Steel" is too. Pure steel is actually among the purest iron around. It usually has more iron in it than pig iron or cast iron for instance, and also higher percentage of iron than most "gold" contains gold. So if carbon steel is actually nearly pure iron, why don't we call it iron or high carbon iron :) I do realize that the carbon content is important for hardness, but more carbon seems to make it "iron" again (e.g. cast iron). Ha ha
I know nothing about steel. All I can say is that steel commonly referred to as stainless steel/rost frei/inox can indeed rust/stain but at an extremely slower rate than other commonly used carbon steels in razor making. As a user of straight razors that is about all I need to know to make stainless steel razors favourites of mine. I have yet to see a badly pitted stainless steel razor including the two 80-90 year old examples I have. I can't say the same for some regular carbon steel razors I have come across.
Bob