Thread: OLD razors... To shave or not to shave...

Originally Posted by Bruno

Sometime ago I almost bought a roman era steel razor that I wanted to restore and put in my rotation. I was outbid at 140 euros by a museum director who would probably be revolted by what I was going to do.

I wish you had told him!

But if you want to get historical you can just cleave a flint rock and shave with it, preferably after getting soaked in the rain.

I believe the right place for some (as in rare and historically significant) artifacts is indeed museums.

We were just talking about this last night. We went to an auction, my wife has a button collection that she uses in her sewing and knitting hobby. She gives a bunch to her friend that also uses them. She got outbid on 2 lots of buttoons by collectors. I said, it was sad that those ladies were going to put those buttons on cards and put them in to an acid proof bag and they would sit on a shelf. She would have used them. I said I was glad that we collect things that were intended to be used, and use them. I have some old razors, old tools, our china pattern hasnt been made for 50 years, etc. etc.

The most expensive razor is the one you never use.

The collectables I have squirlled away are coins and a few stamps. Everything else I use, carefully mind you but I use it. I don't have room or time anymore to devote to collections.

Rare and historicaly important items of quality should be in a musium. I'm not saying nothing should go to waste sitting on their shelves. If a piece in well used condition (like most of them) and taken care of, USE IT.

Originally Posted by DwarvenChef

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Rare and historicaly important items of quality should be in a musium. I'm not saying nothing should go to waste sitting on their shelves. If a piece in well used condition (like most of them) and taken care of, USE IT.

This is why I asked folks their opinion on use of an old razor. Your advice led me to a number of fine shaves with a wonderful historic tool. It just don't get any better.

Well you've decided to shave and I agree with you. The more you do to it will likely devalue it, but I'd say you're doing the blade a service by maintaining the edge. You might not want to make it your daily duty razor, but enjoy it!

X

I have quite a few vintage razors in my collection that I don't shave with. Its not that they are "no good" they just simply are not my type. But I still find them beautiful and importaint as an artifact to me.

Originally Posted by hozzman

I have quite a few vintage razors in my collection that I don't shave with. Its not that they are "no good" they just simply are not my type. But I still find them beautiful and importaint as an artifact to me.

The key to a great collection, the stuff you like hard to argue with that

I do not have a collection only razors I shave with..

I have both . None of the 6 razors I'm currently shaving with are new , in fact I don't own any new razors . The youngest razor I use is a 4/8 Heljestrand that dates around 1950 . The oldest is a 6/8 Joseph Elliots , Best Silver Steel that dates to the 1850's . I have 5 other razors I'm rescaling and making shave ready (for my own use) , that are around 100 years old except for the Wostenholm "meat chopper" and the Fredrick Reynolds 9/16 , which may be a little older . So as you see I don't have anything against restoring and using old razors . I just wouldn't do it to a razor that's 200 years old , but that's just my personal choice . I'm not saying it's the right or wrong thing to do .

I have several that are above 180 years old other than removing active rust and replacing a broken scale or two they are as i found them. and they get used. that is what they were made for and it would almost feel insulting to the memory of the craftman who made them if i just put them in a case and looked at them.