Thread: Grandpa's razor

Gentlemen,

What straight razor would have grandpa shaved with? Put another way, what were the standard straight razors used in grandpa's time.

Gilette razors were popular among the double edge users. What would have been their counterpart in straight razors?

As a student of history, I am curious.

Thanks for your expertise.

Regards,

Obie

One had a pair of dubl ducks, another had an F. Engels, another had "4 or 5" german razors of various makes. The ducks are lost, the Engels is currently owned by my dad and recently honed by me, the clutch of unknown german razors is owned by a family member who I haven't had a chance to visit in many years.

I'm not sure, but I see alot of grandpas razors sold on Ebay.


"This was my grandfathers razor. It was his favorite razor. He shaved with it for 60 years. I found it when I was cleaning out his house.. ect..."

Here is my "Hand-me-Down" from my grangdfather, Henkels and a bbw/coti combi stone Pickeled Tink

I only have one razor of my Grandfather's. It's a Frederick Reynolds, extra hollow.

My Grandfather passed in 1982 at 71 years old. To the best of my knowledge he shaved with a straight all of his life.
He shaved with a J.R. Torrey, a very stiff grind close to a wedge.
He had a plain horsehide strop very similar to a T.M. practice strop ( hanging from the towel bar in the bathroom for as long as I can remember).
His hone was a Crown Razor hone.
I feel very fortunate to have and use all three.

My great granfathers razor was my first. I found it in my fathers dresser drawer in its coffin in mint condition sharp as hell. My grandpa was born in 1912 so if it was his dads it must be very old. I had it rescaled by max because the scales were warped and they were ugly anyhow but what a great blade. Its a 6/8s erusta boehlersteel. Holds an edge like no other once its sharp. Its kinda a pain to get it sharp because its hard steel but man once you do that baby shaves.

Well, my great-grandfather shaved with this Max Dorner.

My great grandfather (mother's side) shaved with Bengals (Cadman and sons). (I'm guessing this was pretty common brand in Australia?)

I've got 2 - one with crack.

There were originally 6 or 7, but an uncle's friend 'borrowed' them and succeded in breaking all but 2. Not sure what he used them for but it wasn't shaving.

My grandfathers only ever used safety razors (to my knowledge).

All the best,
Michael.

My grand father had a Victor straight razor. I also remember him having a Victor barbers hone.
One thing I am rather curious about is what my wife's grand father would have used. He was a Chinese man who emigrated to Thailand probably just after WWII. My mother in-law has told me about how she used to watch her father shave with a straight and it scared the hell out of her.