French Razors

Sometime ago I was visiting with an old barber and he showed me a razor.
It was a French razor - Lauera Brand - not sure about the spelling.

I would like any info available on French razors but not TIs.

Thank you in advance.


dewayne

France is right up there with Germany and England. Le Grelot is another well known one however there are many many others.

I've noticed among the really old ones, stub tailed shavers, some French names. I couldn't give you an example but they come up from time to time.

Yep, right up there with Solingen and Sheffield. For the good deals, my advice is look for the no names.

I just did a quick look around the bay. If you search france straight razor there is quite a nice looking one.

Drew

I have couple and sold at least 10 of them. Some of them very high quality.You can see from steel. will take sharpest edge out there.hope this helps

I have a very nice near-wedge that has a logo stamped on the tang which is a box around A.T. over PARIS.

_________

A. T.

PARIS
_________

Regards - Walt

Thanks Guys:

I am going back and visit the old barber next week and take another look at the razor.

It was a small razor about the size of the TI "La Petite", plain black scales.
and it said it was a great little razor and held an edge well.

Will advise.

dewayne

The barber who had the French razor had some time and was willing to share some thoughts with me.

He stated that the Dubl Duck Goldenedge and C-Mon Blackie were the best razors he had ever used. He had a lot of razors at one time but had sold most of them.

I bought a Dubl Duck No. 1 Special from him in excellent condition.

He has an old razor strop hanging in his shop that says "Russian Finnish" on the strop and it was actually made in Russia.

He was very proud of his little French razor and when I go back to visit I will find out more about his razor.

Thanks again to eveyone who responded.

dewayne

Good stuff to know! I want to find an old barber to befriend and buy things from :(

My only French razor, other than the TI which I own.

This is an interesting one -

a near wedge grind on a round point,
ivory that is not elephant and I can not identify it..looks to be hippo as it has a few straight lines. Definately ivory, not bone or synthetic.
shield inlay
stubby tang
and the wedge pin is flush

This is one unusual razor. I havent finished on it yet. Gave it a light rub with some P800. One day Ill get round to making her shine again.

Ragourd a Toulouse on the tang with some sort of heart symbol. I cant find any info. None
Attachment 34561

very nice razor.

I have a french razor. It is marked ESMELIN Paris. It is 6/8 at the point and 5/8 near the tang. It is the best shaving razor I have. Similar to the one Scipio has. Mack

Probably similar dimensions to mine then - this becomes narrower towards the tang, although this is 13/16 at the widest down to 5/8.

I hope its a sweet shaver, I haven't honed her yet.

BTW - anyone have any idea what year this may be from?

I have three Luer razors. According to the coffin and blade markings, they were made in Paris. Two are about a quarter hollow grind the the other is a full hollow round end. All of them shave great and hold an edge better than my Dovos. Here's a few shots of one of the quarter hollows.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...vPBBK1Iyk8.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...i2nBK1IzGz.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...mdBK1IzNv0.jpg

These are the razors like my friend has. I could not remember the spelling but the razor you show is like very like his.

Thanks so much!

dewayne

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Scipio

Probably similar dimensions to mine then - this becomes narrower towards the tang, although this is 13/16 at the widest down to 5/8.

I hope its a sweet shaver, I haven't honed her yet.

BTW - anyone have any idea what year this may be from?

---

I don't have a clue but that is one beautiful razor. If the scales are original it must be pretty old as in the early 1800s they started putting a curve in the scales. Most factory made scales no longer had that straight profile. :shrug:

Thanks Jimmy, I knew it was old as it lacks a tang, just wasnt sure how old.
I think the scales are original. They werent that pretty when I got it - the inlay and pins were black and the scales were very matt in colour with lots of dirt. It took me a while to polish them.

They are pretty flat - if I lay them on a table, they contact at all points.