Polish vintage SR - SFK Wapienica , the "Surgical" one

[GatoLoco]

To finish well my busy SR weekend I pulled out my old polish military one I wanted to present you.

It's brand is SFK Wapienica, this one is 11/16 of inch, near wedge ground. The factory Starobielska Fabryka Kos =SFK (Starobielska Scythe Factory) was found in 1938 (and was active up to 1993), but as far as I know those razors were produced already after 2WW.

There were several models of SR produced in SFK factory. This one actually is called "surgical", because it belonged to the military services operating theater equipment. It was used for shaving of surgical field of the patients before being operated. This SR is whole made of stainless steel for the steam sterilisation purposes. It was quite easy to buy as surplus during last years. Got to my hands about one year ago as a gift of a friend of mine as a NOS, anyways there was visible an influence of a time - steel surface was a little bit yellowish, so I decided to clean and to polish, trying to do my best.

You can see the result on the picture below. Have a nice week!

[randydance062449]

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You have a good friend!

[RezDog]

They are not always the most evenly ground razors but they do hold a nice edge. The scales are a little heavy and it makes them less than a pleasure to strop, but they are sturdy and that one looks to have cleaned up well.

[PaulFLUS]

Very interesting story about that razor and the history. It looks like it cleaned up well. Thanks for sharing and good luck with it.

[BrianP]

I've got a couple or three of these lurking about somewhere, waiting for new scales. While I can shave with the original scales, it takes a bit of management. I really like how they shave and I need to get mine back into rotation.

[GatoLoco]

They are not always the most evenly ground razors but they do hold a nice edge. The scales are a little heavy and it makes them less than a pleasure to strop, but they are sturdy and that one looks to have cleaned up well.

You are absolutely right about rare balance of this razor and its grind, I don't use it very often to shave my face. It is also a little bit tricky in honing process, but I still like it as a part of my small SR collection

[BobH]

I have a Wapi somewhere here that came without scales. Made new scales from a red plastic cutting board, honed it up and shaved with it. Works just fine iirc but the blade is on the small side to what I like to use.

Bob

[RezDog]

You are absolutely right about rare balance of this razor and its grind, I don't use it very often to shave my face. It is also a little bit tricky in honing process, but I still like it as a part of my small SR collection

I have a couple too.