Are These New Razors?

Gentlemen,

I telephoned Lynn this afternoon and left a message — he must be on his annual fishing trip. From what I recall, this is what I said:

"Hello, Lynn. The restored razors arrived. What magic did you work on them? My God, they are gorgeous. They are stunning. I don't believe the way they look. Are you sure you didn't go out and buy me new razors?"

What else is there to say to a master craftsman?

It started several weeks ago when I made my first foray into the realm of flea markets and rummage sale in search of the Holy Grail of straight razors. I came away with some dozen or so razors in the usual flea market state of neglect and disrepair.

Rather than trying to restore all myself, since I have just started to learn the craft of restoration, I sent Lynn what I thought were the best in the group and left it up to his judgment to decide which ones were worth the hands of a craftsman and which the student. I wasn't about to screw up those that might have good possibilities. I also informed him I was in no rush.

A week later, today, four razors arrived with the original scales, nicely packaged and fully restored. And they sparkled. My wife and I sat at the kitchen table as I unwrapped each razor, stunned at the remarkably perfect shape in which they appeared. "Are these those same razors you bought at the flea market?" my wife asked. They were. Lynn had turned three-legged mules into stallions. Astonishing.

The razor are:

1. 5/8" Trusteel brand round point with either amber or mock amber scales, with metal-encased pivot and butt. It's a beautiful razor.

2. 4/8" George Wostinholm & Son's brand Spanish point with either creamy bone or mock ivory scales and the words "Hollow Ground" stretched between two fleur-de-lis. I love the shine, and the Spanish point.

3. 5/8" Crown & Sword brand with the number 1720 on the shank, round point, with slightly faded black scales with the raised imprint of a crown above a sword. This is an exotic razor.

4. 5/8" P.V. Heljestrand Swedish steel square point with creamy colored plastic scales. The razor was the best of the lot, in great shape. Lynn restored it into a perfect shape. And it sparkles.

So there you have it, gentlemen. I don't have pictures. But, aha! the dearly beloveds finally convinced me to say yes to a Christmas gift of a digital camera. For heaven's sake. I have arrived by soon having to retire my Vietnam-era Pentax camera, the same camera that served me well in the vacation spot of the world: the jungles of Vietnam. When I unwrap my camera at Christmas, I will go nuts shooting pictures of my fancy razors.

Made fancy, I should say, by the master craftsman himself: Lynn.

Gentlemen, thanks to my shave guru Lynn, my flea market straights razors have gone Hollywood. As in glamorous Hollywood. As in beautiful starlets sashaying on a velvet carpet.

So thank you, Lynn. Your master's touch is all over these razors.

Regards,
Obie

Thanks Obie!!

I was at the Western NY Get Together and had a great time.

I am very happy that you liked the razors.

Enjoy,

Lynn

Awesome to know this. Now, I am encouraged to look closer at some three legged mules and seeing if they can be turned into stallions. Recycling is big on my list of things to do! Can you show us a before and after photo?

Pabster

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Obie

So there you have it, gentlemen. I don't have pictures. But, aha! the dearly beloveds finally convinced me to say yes to a Christmas gift of a digital camera. For heaven's sake. I have arrived by soon having to retire my Vietnam-era Pentax camera, the same camera that served me well in the vacation spot of the world: the jungles of Vietnam. When I unwrap my camera at Christmas, I will go nuts shooting pictures of my fancy razors.

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Don't retire your pentax camera, simply supplement it with a new DSLR...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stdreb27

Don't retire your pentax camera, simply supplement it with a new DSLR...

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+1 stdreb27. The new Pentax DSLRs can use old K-mount, and with an adapter, M42 lenses.

Obie, you'll have ablast using your old lenses in manual/apeture priority modes, and you can use the new lenses on auto-everything.

Matt

Gentlemen,

Thank you for sharing my regard and respect for my shave guru Lynn. He does indeed have the master's touch, aside from being a noble gentleman.

In the meantime, I must wait for my fancy new digital camera, which the troops are getting me for Christmas, before I can post some photos of the razors. They are lovely.

Also, thank you for your thoughts on updating my Pentax. That is a very good idea, as I have a special attachment to the Pentax. As a U.S. Army combat correspondent, and occasional photographer, I used it throughout my time in the jungles of Vietnam.

Interestingly enough, since I was also a soldier with a rifle and couple of bandoliers, instead of hanging the Pentax around my neck from the strap, I would keep it out of site so that I wouldn't create the perfect bull's eye for some gung-ho sniper. Excuse me!

So the Pentax brings back fond memories — bittersweet memories, really. There is nothing fond about war — any war.

Regards,
Obie

Haha, Lynn was telling me how excited you were when you saw your "new" razors. I had a chance to watch Lynn work on the wheels while at the WNY meet, and it is truely amazing what he can do. Lynn actually worked on one of my own blades during a tutorial on Friday night and I was blown away. The next day, when I'd already seen what Lynn could do to a blade, I was still blown away by the transformation that the razors underwent. The only thing better than the way the razors come out looking is the pure joy that Lynn gets from bringing the blades back to life. There was always a huge smile on his face when we looked at a blade fresh off a wheel. Truely fantastic to watch.

My dear holli4pirating,

I wish I had been there to watch the master at work on your razor. That must have been quite a sight. I am in awe of Lynn's dedication to his craft and his love of sharing his knowledge with others. That is a noble trait.

I have never had the pleasure of meeting Lynn in person, but we have held many telephone and e-mail conversations. We do, however, have a standing invitation for cognac, cigar and conversation — one of these days.

Tomorrow morning, before a trip to Chicago to visit my older brother, I plan to shave with the last of the four razors Lynn restored. This one is a shiny Crown & Sword 5/8", which I find quite exotic. All three, which Lynn also honed, are fine shavers. I am sure the last one will join their ranks.

Now if I can only last through the night. Fortunately I am usually up about 4 a.m. — as a result of 30 years of doing morning drive radio — to work on my novel. By 4:30 a.m. tomorrow I plan to start the shaving ritual by first soaking my brush in hot water in the scuttle.

By the way, it is strange addressing a gentlemen as "My dear holli4pirating," but I don't know your name. So my apologies.

Regards,
Obie