Thread: Number on shank

I have an old Rugra razor given to me by my aunt when her husband passed away. On the shank above the word "Rugra" is the number 180. Is this a model number or some indication of the kind of steel (carbon vs. stainless)? I saw a Rugra-Rudolph Grah (similar ro mine) on eBay with the same number and names stamped on the shank, but different scales, so I wondered if it was something beside a model number. BTW, does anyone know if it's carbon or stainless?

Henckels razors have a similar thing where numbers are stamped into the tang. Someone one time posted a scan from an old catalog that made it pretty apparent they were used as model numbers. Maybe one of the razors you're looking at has been rescaled? Or maybe the manufacturer changed which scales go on but kept the same model number? That would be more or less like cars - the Honda Civic doesn't look like it used to but they still call it a Civic.

Josh,
Thanks for the feedback. Is there a way for me to tell whether it is carbon or stainless (hoping for carbon)?
Thanks,
Dave

Yes. Leave it in a bucket of salty water & you'll find out!
Has it got any darker patina on it? This would be an indication of carbon. It's most likely carbon, as stainless razors are a relatively new thing, on the whole.

My new shumate also has a number on the tang (0125), probably that days production number or something.... :/