Thread: Is this a Solingen razor?!?

I am hoping that someone can help identify the origins of this razor. It has MAGNETICA stamped on the tang and SOLINGER MAGNETSTAHL etched on the blade with what appears to be the Solingen seal. The problem is that this razor just doesn't feel right. The workmanship isn't that good and it just has a clunky, Pakistani feel to it. I was going to enter it in the Wiki, but this feeling of doubt keeps gnawing at my tiny brain. Have razors from Pakistan (or other undesirable locations) been found to have Solingen markings? Is Solinger a variation of Solingen in the German language? This razor was part of a package deal and I would really like to know if its the "real deal".

Regards - Walt

Well, Solinger could mean "From Solingen" (like New Yorker, Londoner, etc.) but that diacritic above the "e" in Magnetica isn't very German...

I don't think that is a diacritical mark, Jim. It looks like a misstrike when they stamped the tang. And you can see how irregular the lettering is. Not at all what you would expect from a Solingen made razor. And look at the uneven tooling where the tang meets the shoulder. It just makes me wonder.

Regards - Walt

Not all Solingen made razors were of exceptional quality. Its probably real, just a crummy example of Solingen steel.

The name of the razor is "Magnética" which is the Spanish translation of the English word "Magnetic". My feeling is that this is one of the many razors produced in Solingen for the Spanish market. As for the rest of it, there is nothing terribly out of line relative to the fit and finish of that razor. I have seen worse... even without looking to the admittedly poor results that come out of Pakistan.

+1 on that!

I'm sure ignaz is correct, too!

Regards,
neil

Solinger Magnetstahl translates directly to Magnetic Steel from Solingen so the grammar holds up at least. Can't speak to the e thing, don't know spanish.

Originally Posted by ignatz

The name of the razor is "Magnética" which is the Spanish translation of the English word "Magnetic". My feeling is that this is one of the many razors produced in Solingen for the Spanish market. As for the rest of it, there is nothing terribly out of line relative to the fit and finish of that razor. I have seen worse... even without looking to the admittedly poor results that come out of Pakistan.

Amen! Bottom line - how does it shave?

I was wondering that too. So I honed it up last night and shaved with it this morning. I was very pleased with how fast it took an edge and the shave was very nice. I don't think I'll add it to my rotation, but I can't complain about the shave. Like the old Tennessee feller said, "It ain't much fer pretty, but it's hell fer stout."

Regards - Walt