Thread: Thoughts on Henckels 70 1/2

Originally Posted by celticcrusader

Definitely used. The photo's you are showing and the link to the razor you are showing are 2 completely different razors.

I gave the link to the listing, because their boxes are from the same production period, and they have the same kind of scales, and same inscriptions on their tangs. I thought this could help estimating the date and model, not the condition.

the stamps dates the razor from between 1900 and 1969. The box however is likely from the 50's. The razor was probably made at the same time as the box. Earlier model Henckels from the same time line came in cardboard slip cases.

Very good razor and good price for the condition, I have a few Henckles and they all are good shavers, very well made razors, the same goes for their cutlery ( if you stay away from the later china made stuff)
Stay Sharp!

I am lucky enough to own more than a dozen Friodurs, including two 70½ razors, and find them generally excellent shavers and not difficult to hone.

A few years back I found a NOS Friodur with black scales, rather than with the typical white ones, on a trip to Vienna and this one turned out to be the exception.
I took me forever to hone a passable edge and even a trip to a reknown honemaster did not improve the shaves.
I was almost ready to give up, but eventually managed to get an acceptable edge and satisfactory shaves from it.

This NOS Friodur was noticeable different from the others and made me wonder whether the uncommon black scales Friodurs date from a period shortly before Henckels stopped producing them and had already lost interest in this product range.
Henckels had produced razors with black scales for a long time, but top of the range Friodurs always tended to have white scales.

In short, I would be careful before I would buy a Friodur with black scales.


B.

Originally Posted by beluga

I am lucky enough to own more than a dozen Friodurs, including two 70½ razors, and find them generally excellent shavers and not difficult to hone.

A few years back I found a NOS Friodur with black scales, rather than with the typical white ones, on a trip to Vienna and this one turned out to be the exception.
I took me forever to hone a passable edge and even a trip to a reknown honemaster did not improve the shaves.
I was almost ready to give up, but eventually managed to get an acceptable edge and satisfactory shaves from it.

This NOS Friodur was noticeable different from the others and made me wonder whether the uncommon black scales Friodurs date from a period shortly before Henckels stopped producing them and had already lost interest in this product range.
Henckels had produced razors with black scales for a long time, but top of the range Friodurs always tended to have white scales.

In short, I would be careful before I would buy a Friodur with black scales.


B.

Thank you for the detailed comment. I had already ordered it before you posted this. Now, I'll just wait and see how this one turns out to be...

I will share my experience with it here, along with better pictures.

By the way, the seller says he got it from someone 20 years ago, who had bought it 30 years before that in Germany. So it must be at least 50 years old. Probably one of the latest models made before the logo change.

Does the one you mentioned has "ZWILLINGSWERK" inscribed on its tang too?

Originally Posted by zeedl

Thank you for the detailed comment.

Does the one you mentioned has "ZWILLINGSWERK" inscribed on its tang too?

My Friodur with black scales has the twins logo, “Friodur”, “INOX - NO STAIN” and “Made in Germany” chemically etched on the shank, where it differs again from all my other Friodurs that had this information embossed on shank or tang.

Before someone should mention it: As I bought this razor from a specialty knife and cutlery shop that is also a Henckels concessionaire, I have no reason to believe that it is not genuine.

B.

I think at $45 it is a very nice deal regardless