These Three Framebacks You See

My scalloped shank LeCoultre arrived, adding to my growing collection... You can get them fairly cheaply if you look around and are patient. Or you can be like me, be impulsive, and spend more money.

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The top frameback belongs to the box on the left. The center razor came with no box, and the scalloped belongs to the right box. Based on the cruder scales and construction, I judge the top razor to be the earlier make, with the bottom two coming later. Each one has a different maker's stamp on the shank. The blade in the middle razor is a NOS blade for a Leresche frameback (more on that after the next photo).

I also have four different varieties of blades.

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The top, second, and third down blades belong to each razor respectively in the first photo. The bottom is a NOS replacement for a Leresche frameback I ordered off the internet, which came in it's original wax paper and still has whatever anti-rust grease they put on it decades ago. The top blade requires a smaller "slot" to fit into the frameback spine, and will only go into the top razor. The other three blades will fit in either of the bottom two razor spines... but the second and bottom blade toes contact the scale wedge in the bottom razor, and the third and fourth blade protrude from the scales of the second razor when closed.

I'm also taken by the screw for the bottom blade... it's a delicate little piece in it's own right...

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I've heard good things about LeCoultre's as shavers... I haven't gotten any of the blades to a shaving condition yet, although I've found they'll take and hold a bevel quite quickly...

All in all, interesting stuff!

Following up on this, I've been honing away at the LeCoultre blades. I've been getting superb shaves... In addition to the steel having a nice temper, I think there's something to the pronounced smile that provides a very close yet comfortable shave.

One other item I like with having several blades that are identical, is that I can compare honing approaches (synth, various JNats, etc.). Removes a factor from the equation where you're often unsure if the resulting shave is the steel, the grind, or the honing...