Thread: Champion

Grabbed a few razors off the bay last week. To my great surprise, when they arrived yesterday several of them passed the HHT - so I spent a bit of time cleaning one (the farthest to the left in the photo) and shaved with it this morning. The results were great - feels like I'm just wiping the lather off my face and yet the hair is gone.

The blade (I'll post a better picture soon) is unmarked except for the word "CHAMPION" on one side of the tang. I looked in the razor database and didn't see any reference. I did find one reference to an earlier thread on Le Grelot that suggested that Champion was a French brand. Anyone have any insight?

Thanks,

Brian

BTW - the bay score also included a nearly-shave ready Bengall, a Wosty Pipe, F. Reynolds Wedge, Wester De-Fi and a couple others I've never heard of (as well as a badly chipped Boker). I'll post pictures of the rest soon, but the item link is: Fabulous Collection of Vintage Straight Razors - eBay (item 260423092376 end time Jun-11-09 15:46:27 PDT)

Congrats on that score. You're a lucky fellow. I have bought more ebay razors than I can count and only one came to me that was absolutely shave ready. I barber's son from Fort Lee, NJ sold a FWE wedge that was as good as it gets right out of the package. The old man honed it 20 years before and it was still HHT sharp.

Honestly - it was a complete surprise. The posting didn't say anything about them being shave ready or even close. I assumed I'd need to send them off to a honemeister (my honing skills are not quite up to par).

Fabulous collection in deed! Really nice!

I think I see some turtleshell handles in that photo

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

I think I see some turtleshell handles in that photo

I think they are as well, although I've been fooled on occasion. I understand that turtle shell (like celluloid) will melt or warp under heat. Is there another way to distinguish?

Still looking for any insights into the Champion mark.

Thanks,

Brian

Originally Posted by defoeb

I understand that turtle shell (like celluloid) will melt or warp under heat.

I'm not sure - I've heard the opposite but have not tried it myself

Here's an interesting bit from Straight Razors - Do You Know What That Handle Is Made From?

Tortoise Shell. This product is mis-named, as almost all this material come from the shell of the hawksbill turtle. It is polished to semitransparency, when its mottling becomes evident. With age it may well change to a dark red-brown colour. This has always been a rare scale material, and even before turtles became protected it was imitated with cow horn, then later still with celluloid. Again, the hot pin test will reveal the celluloid imitation, but cow horn can be almost impossible to distinguish without extensive testing.

Is Champion stamped into the blade or the tang?

I have Champion FBU I cannot remember the maker. The Champion name dates the razor to 1880 something. After the company merged with another they dropped the Champion moniker.

Champion is on the tang. All capital letters, with no ornamentation. I can't find another mark on the blade, tang, etc.

To the extent it might make a difference - a few additional facts: There are no jimps. Also, the tang and spine seem to me to be wider than the tang/spine on many (most) of my other razors. It is hollow ground.

Is it heavier than your other razors?

If so that tends to date things as being older. Pre1900.

I have a 4/8 that is just stamped IMPORT in lazy oval. Nothing else. Shave great so I don't care.