Thread: The journey of 1000 miles starts...

Hello,

I've been lurking around here for a few months. Been reading and studying a lot and finally decided to go out and find something to start with.

So the adventure begins in sunny California.. I wake up, get ready, hop in the car and drive to a gun show in Glendale. I figured that there had to be someone there with a few razors and had been conjuring dreams of finding an old stock of Escher hones or Filly NOS that was just laying in a box. ... is it just me or does everyone do this LOL.

So I make the 45 minute drive and get a good parking spot, pay my entrance fee, walk in and realize... i barely know where to look. So I just start walking around in a slight daze feeling happy just to be there.

So there are guns and knives everywhere, cheap stuff, expensive stuff, you name it. But right where I had walked in was a nice gentleman with a bunch of old cases that I had missed on my first walk through (heck his was the first booth you saw when you walked in and paid!). I start looking around and then notice in the far in back left, where you had to squeeze by the next vendors booth.. there it was! A case with several straight razors.

I felt like a kid in a candy shop and quickly asked if I might look through the case. He opens up the homemade glass top fastened together with a black tape that was falling apart. I am staring at an array of various old razors in every shape imaginable, so, hesitatingly, I begin to pick them up and inspect them one by one. I open up one and find a name I recognize JR Torrey... I get excited and do my best to hide it. I find a few more interesting ones and know that I will be purchasing a few.

I gather my courage and form the cooly delivered question... "How much are you asking for these?". The man with the white beard glances my direction and shrugs, "10 bucks a piece." I nod in understanding, hand him a few of my selections to hold while I go somewhere to scream in joy.. quietly..

So now I have these... let the restorations begin.


A Robert Klaas Prussia - Crane Razor








JR Torrey - needs a bit more work






Clauss Barbers Special - this appears to have never been used or honed - maybe hard to tell in the picture though.






My goal is to learn with these, restoration, honing, and of course shaving.


All I can say is that was a lot of fun and I'm looking foward to my next adventure! Now to go find some good hones lurking at the swap meets....


Until next time!

Stay sharp,

CZ

IMO you did well. That Klaas is a looker and if it were me I would get it pro honed to be my shaver and my bench mark for my own efforts. The Torrey looks good too but I have a soft spot for Klaas because of my pocket knife collecting background.

Thanks JimmyHAD!

I was thinking along the same lines. In all my research that is the one thing I have not looked into - professional honing services.

I'm sure this might be a loaded question, but any suggestions/links as to where would be good for someone in California for a decent turn around time?


Stay sharp,

CZ

Originally Posted by ciscozombie

Thanks JimmyHAD!

I was thinking along the same lines. In all my research that is the one thing I have not looked into - professional honing services.

I'm sure this might be a loaded question, but any suggestions/links as to where would be good for someone in California for a decent turn around time?


Stay sharp,

CZ

Gee I don't know. Here is the member services in the classifieds. I hone my own and have bought quite a few that Lynn honed I can highly recommend him for sure but he is in Ohio. Lot of good honers out there no doubt though and maybe some in CA.

Wow... nice score.. I believe the hunt is the best part. Especially when you find those gems at a bargain of a deal. Keep it up and keep us posted. And thanks for sharing that great story

Good score!

I wish there were more places like that here in the UK...!

Happy restoration and shaving!

Great story! And I happen to be going to the Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup (and Gun Show) this weekend in Sweetwater Texas.

Taking my Dad (80 - he grew up there) and my Son (12) so a great time should be had by all.

Wish me Luck!

Zacsdaddy

Nice looking blades!

Congratulations! You had great luck; I have been to several gun shows in AZ looking for razors, without success. Found some GREAT beef jerky, though, from a Tucson manufacturer. The Klaas is a wonderful looking razor and you really should consider getting it restored and honed by an expert

Don't you love throwing on your poker face knowing a razor is worth over 100 but trying to play it down to 20 or even 10 dollars? Quite a rush!