Buy new or restore?

First I would like to say, what a great site this is!:beer1: Wish I would have found it years ago.

I haven't really shaved all that much in the past, kept burrs or beard most of the time. But now I have to shave in order to keep from wearing a "beard cover" at work. I have tried shaving with an OLD (25yrs+) H. Boker & Co, Germany straight razor with some success. Is the razor worth restoring to shaving status or should I just replace it with a better one? I know, without seeing it is hard to tell, maybe a pic later. Blade has wear, not all shiny any more but I think I can clean it up and sharpen it. It ain't much to look at but if it works...... I do have access to lapping paper at work, lucky me :D.

Just gettin' started.

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Originally Posted by Str8Razors

First I would like to say, what a great site this is!:beer1: Wish I would have found it years ago.

I haven't really shaved all that much in the past, kept burrs or beard most of the time. But now I have to shave in order to keep from wearing a "beard cover" at work. I have tried shaving with an OLD (25yrs+) H. Boker & Co, Germany straight razor with some success. Is the razor worth restoring to shaving status or should I just replace it with a better one? I know, without seeing it is hard to tell, maybe a pic later. Blade has wear, not all shiny any more but I think I can clean it up and sharpen it. It ain't much to look at but if it works...... I do have access to lapping paper at work, lucky me :D.

Just gettin' started.

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Have a picture of it?

If this isyour first straight razor, i would send it out to a pro to get honed. That way you have an idea what a shave ready blade should be like

Basically what I did was ask around and check out the buy sell trade scene at a few shaving forums. I'm actually sending two straights out to be honed soon I think. If it is a razor you like and want to save, then by all means go for it. It seems like some of the guys on here can work magic with an old blade.

But if you just want a razor sharp, good looking blade for cheaper than anything new will run you, check out the classifieds here. Anything that says shave ready, means shave ready. If you just want to clean yours up, there are several threads with contact info for honemeisters.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Str8Razors

First I would like to say, what a great site this is!:beer1: Wish I would have found it years ago.

I haven't really shaved all that much in the past, kept burrs or beard most of the time. But now I have to shave in order to keep from wearing a "beard cover" at work. I have tried shaving with an OLD (25yrs+) H. Boker & Co, Germany straight razor with some success. Is the razor worth restoring to shaving status or should I just replace it with a better one? I know, without seeing it is hard to tell, maybe a pic later. Blade has wear, not all shiny any more but I think I can clean it up and sharpen it. It ain't much to look at but if it works...... I do have access to lapping paper at work, lucky me :D.

Just gettin' started.

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Welcome to SRP. I would suggest sending it out for pro honing if it is full bladed with good scales (handles). Also buy a second new razor both as a back up or to have a rotation. Shaving with one or the other on alternate days. If you haven't already done so have a look at the SRP Wiki here. Everything you might want to know about straight razors and shaving and maintaining them.

Boker made a superior razor. There aren't many that are much better. If the condition is decent I would certainly restore it.

A couple of pics.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...2/PICT0797.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...2/PICT0796.jpg

Really nice razor. I'd clean that up, hone it and use it happily for the rest of my days.

I love the work on the spine

That is a"yes restore it"razor. Oh and welcome to the SRP.

Welcome to SRP. :) +1 on restoring and sending it out for a professional hone. There's a list of people you can hire to hone your blade in the classifieds:

Member Services - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

Keep us updated on you progress. Nice razor BTW!

That is a 1056 if I'm not mistaken. I have one with black scales. If I had that I would wipe it down with metal polish and get some of the staining off and then hone it up and shave. You will probably be sending it out but be aware that removing the patina and giving it a mirror finish would probably be kind of expensive. It is a lot of work. You don't need that to have a good shaver. Just my two bits.