Thread: Deteriming Razor Composition

Most stainless razors are from the late 1950s and later. There are some from the 40s and before that it would be very very rare.

Some stainless is non magnetic but depending on the alloy it might be.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Most stainless razors are from the late 1950s and later. There are some from the 40s and before that it would be very very rare.

Some stainless is non magnetic but depending on the alloy it might be.

Also, wouldn't it probably be indicated on the razor? That would have been quite novel at the time and seems like something that would have been emphasized.

Originally Posted by JP5

Also, wouldn't it probably be indicated on the razor? That would have been quite novel at the time and seems like something that would have been emphasized.

Many razors made of stainless will say so. The ones I've seen form the 60s seem to all say so but the few I've seen from when they first started using stainless did not say it. I'm sure the coffin did but once lost.....

Have to make sure people know it is the best thing since sliced bread!

The thing about vintage razors is the make up of the steel didn't change much between different models or really from one maker to the next. Most of the descriptions of steels were made up by the advertising Depts.of the differen't razor companies. Very few if any "Silver Steel" razors had any silver in them. Silver in other than very small amounts will make the steel softer & not take a good edge. England, Germany, Sweden & the USA were the main razor & knife steel makers & just because a razor was forged & ground in England didn't mean that the steel came from that country. Also just because a blade is made from stainless steel does not make it a better blade, just different. Stainless steel used to make blades has enough carbon to make the steel hardenable & not a "Stainless as normal stainless steel. Blades made of stainless steel are magnetic.
I will take a carbon steel razor or knife any day.

Slawman

Originally Posted by Slawman

The thing about vintage razors is the make up of the steel didn't change much between different models or really from one maker to the next. Most of the descriptions of steels were made up by the advertising Depts.of the differen't razor companies. Very few if any "Silver Steel" razors had any silver in them. Silver in other than very small amounts will make the steel softer & not take a good edge. England, Germany, Sweden & the USA were the main razor & knife steel makers & just because a razor was forged & ground in England didn't mean that the steel came from that country. Also just because a blade is made from stainless steel does not make it a better blade, just different. Stainless steel used to make blades has enough carbon to make the steel hardenable & not a "Stainless as normal stainless steel. Blades made of stainless steel are magnetic.
I will take a carbon steel razor or knife any day.

Slawman

From my understanding, the Silver Steel designation (apart from work such as from Faraday / Stodard / Pickslay etc) was meant more as a type of steel rather than literally silver+steel. Then there are of course the ones marked "silver combined with steel" but that's another story. Especially in earlier razors the composition could vary a bit since a lot was dependent upon the composition of the ores (i.e. they were not up to the modern metallurgical abilities to specifically control elemental compositions).

Originally Posted by ScienceGuy

From my understanding, the Silver Steel designation (apart from work such as from Faraday / Stodard / Pickslay etc) was meant more as a type of steel rather than literally silver+steel. Then there are of course the ones marked "silver combined with steel" but that's another story.).

Another story, that I would like to learn more about. Teach us Teacher!