Henckels 244

Good day all!

Although I've been making lots of Razor (and Razor related!) acquisitions recently, I haven't posted much - however, I had to share this one.
Ebay "make an offer" sure worked out in my favor on this one, A Henckels 244 in 7/8 in grate shape! It was dirty, but really only 1 tarnish spot on the tang, and the celluloid scales have a crack on the backside wedge pin. I wasn't able to find much info on this particular model, and while it is a barber's notch style blade - the bottom of the notch sticks out a bit further than the top...and of course I didn't really capture that in the images. Anyway, Here are the pics! I'll have her honed up and test driven before the week is out.

Hope everyone had a great weekend.

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Nice! I believe that to be 1880s or earlier but after 1850. Just an extrapolation from the stamp and lack of origin stamp. Beautiful though.

I was appreciating the shape and condition so much I hadn't noticed the missing "Germany". That is curious. Not sure the scales could be that old however, they are pretty typical type of plastic, no camphor type smell or anything like that.

History of "Made in Germany": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Made_in_Germany

Great looking razor. Is it possible that the scales are ivory? Also could you post a close up photo of the hinge pin on the backside? I can't tell from photo #2 if a modern nail head type pin was used.

Bob

I sure wish they were ivory, but alas they are not. Different feel, more flexible, no discernable markings in the material, it is more thick than most ivory (my limited experience) and finally, I was able to whittle off a tiny bit of
material from the inside of the scales. It does have a metal wedge for whatever that is worth. Here are some closeups.

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Very nice old Henckels. Hard to see any more.

Should shave a treat! :tu

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Originally Posted by cwomg

I sure wish they were ivory, but alas they are not. Different feel, more flexible, no discernable markings in the material, it is more thick than most ivory (my limited experience) and finally, I was able to whittle off a tiny bit of
material from the inside of the scales. It does have a metal wedge for whatever that is worth. Here are some closeups.

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Thank you for posting those photos. Is photo #2 the hinge pin on the backside, the side with no writing on the tang? If it is I was wrong in thinking it may have been a modern nail head type pin. Depending on where in the tusk and how it was cut there may be no schreger lines showing just a plain surface. Could be wrong in thinking the scales may possibly be ivory also.

In any event it is a fine looking razor that should serve you well, enjoy.

Bob

The way the crack is....Bone or ivory IMO.

The Twins logo dates it between 1900 and 1969, if memory serves me correctly.
It is a beauty for sure.

That settles it, hot pin test happening this aftermoon!!

Atta Boy, cwomg!!Attachment 309277

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Originally Posted by cwomg

That settles it, hot pin test happening this aftermoon!!

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Oh sure, believe Tom. ;):angel::w:roflmao

Bob

It's really more of not believing myself Bob, but without you i wouldnt know the term schreger lines :) more to follow, stay tuned!

Not sure I've ever been so happy to be wrong :cool: what I now know is that hot pin does nothing to these scales and also I should not use a Tupperware lid as a "control group" for my highly scientific research. Thanks Bob and Tom for guiding in the right direction.

Oh! All I ever do is follow Bob around and agree! ;)
Now....To get some strong peroxide up in the crack whilst it's spread to soak tor a while.....
Your wife's toothbrush! :)

Get it unpinned and see about getting some CA in the crack.

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Originally Posted by cwomg

It's really more of not believing myself Bob, but without you i wouldnt know the term schreger lines :) more to follow, stay tuned!

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I in turn would not have known the term Schreger line had it not been for a now deceased member of this forum by the name of pixelfixed. Not only did he do nice work with ivory but passed on a lot of knowledge about it. Just passing it forward for those who want to listen.

Bob

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Originally Posted by RezDog

The Twins logo dates it between 1900 and 1969, if memory serves me correctly.
It is a beauty for sure.

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Those symbols are a little ambiguous and far apart to help with dating. I have never been sure from what I've seen if the twins with the long hands started in 1900 or if that was a "snapshot" of what they were in 1900. I'd be willing to bet that's pre 1888 though...not to be contrary Rez. Just sayin'.

That's really cool that it turned out to be ivory! I'm excited for you.

I’m glad someone here got that, it’s in really awesome shape, my guess is bone, given how thick it is and the washers on the pins.

I'm not sure in quite ready to re-pin natural material scales just yet :) thanks all!!

-Mickey

It's an oldie and a goodie. I would go turn of century or thereabouts.........Such a lovely blade. Nice find.

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Originally Posted by cwomg

I'm not sure in quite ready to re-pin natural material scales just yet :) thanks all!!

-Mickey

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I get it. I have this infamous lack of fear of things I should be terrified of and I would be a little nervous about taking apart an ivory scaled razor. It's important to know your limits. You might do just fine but boy that would really suck wet dog fur to mess up those nice scales. I think I might consider hiring somebody to do that one if I didn't feel comfortable doing it.

I would be looking for a back scale! :hmmm:

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Originally Posted by jfk742

I’m glad someone here got that, it’s in really awesome shape, my guess is bone, given how thick it is and the washers on the pins.

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The OP did the hot pin test in post #15 and found the result to indicate ivory. Just goes to show how hard it can be to determine if scales are ivory or not from a photo. Normally scale thickness and washers on the pins would point to some other scale material but not always as there were makers who used pins with washers and slightly thicker scales on their ivory scales. It may have been that was the practice for Solingen makers. It is always fun to try visually guess the type of material though.

Bob

Wow another great catch cwomg! You have a good eye and a knack for finding them. Keep doing what you are doing! Any new stones?

Thanks Toroblanco! As a matter of fact I just received a stone from Peter at Thuringianhones.de today! opened it up about 15 minutes ago. Also a few months ago I picked up an Ozuku JNAT from Alex up in Napa - it was super cool to get to visit him in person, he has a shop chocked full of drool-worthy stuff that I'm not even educated enough to properly appreciate!

Nice cwomg! Alex G's hone shed is full of wonder and delight! Lol! I was in awe the whole time I was in there. He was pulling stones from every nook and cranny. Very good host and a pleasure to deal with.

Peter too! You are on a roll buddy! Those two are tops in there field in my book.