Thread: Ern Ator Razors

Hey y'all, I am looking at picking up one of these razors that appears to be in good shape. I have attached some pictures. The razor also comes with the original scales which appear to be in good shape and a piece of snakewood for scales. What do you think is a reasonable price for this group, does it look like its in good shape and are they good razors? Thanks very much for the help!

Chris

Very good razors that were produced in Solingen, Germany. I especially like the sway back which is unusual to that extent on a German hollow.

We do not offer valuations here at SRP, so I can not name you a price for the blade and wood for scales. Do you know how to make scales btw? If so, then the wood is worth the price wood, which is readily available.

The blade however, is fairly rare IMHO. If you could not hone, nor make scales yourself, then the blade is worth the cost of one's restoration services (which you can find out quite easily) plus the balance you deem it to be worth, baring in mind you can buy a god mid range SR for around 120 dollars or so shave ready.

Hope this helps

Sorry about the valuation ? I didn't know that they weren't offered.

I do know how to make scales (never done it before but I am an avid woodworker so I am confident that I will be able to make scales), never honed a razor, but I have stones for sharpening my knives (I know its completely different, but you have to learn sometime.

The blade looks to be in pretty good shape, would you agree? I am relatively knew to SR shaving so I am not incredibly knowledgable, but it doesnt look to have too much hone wear and looks like pretty well taken care of. Thoughts?

Chris

It does look good, but why is it not scaled?

Some one could have taken the scales off and restored it. Im not saying they have, but you don't know the condition of the edge. I have had blades that looked fine, but have had a corroded edge where 1/8 needs to be taken off to get to good steel.

Chances are not, but you never know. Don't pay too much for it, there have been several others like that in the past, and there will be more. There is one on the bay at the moment, but it needs work.

The deal I have is $55 for razor, original scales and snakewood scale material. Originally the seller was going to rescale and get honed but he gave up. He is a DE shaver and couldn't really get into SR shaving. Here is a pic of the scales and snakewood.

Send that guy out for a repin and a hone and you're ready to shave...right after the brush, soap, and aftershave.

My favorite razor is an ERN ator just like that, but mine is square pointed. They're very easy to hone and come out very sharp with little effort. nice!

Originally Posted by dawgfan13

never honed a razor, but I have stones for sharpening my knives (I know its completely different, but you have to learn sometime.

Chris,

I'm a new guy, I'm nobody's expert, and I've never honed a razor, so take my comments with a grain of salt. I've seen a few comments like yours so I thought I might address it by passing on what I've read. There seem to be lots of threads on SRP about honing and "how tough can it be, I sharpen lots of knives" etc. If you do some searches on honing and read up on it, you'll soon see that many of our resident honing experts like Lynn, JimmyHAD, gssixgun, hi_bud_gl, and others will tell you that honing is its own animal, and just because someone can put an edge on a knife, doesn't mean that they can do the same for a straight razor. You'll also read that, until you've shaved for a while with a professionally honed razor, that you will have no idea what "sharp" really means for a straight razor. Also, not all stones are razor hones. You might also ask one of our honing experts about this and see what they have to say.

Below are some comments from gssixgun from another thread regarding honing that might help:

Originally Posted by gssixgun

...Many knife and tool guys, because of the love of the steel and stones often end up here, and many of them ask the same things you are asking...

We all say the same thing over and over many times "Razors are different" many don't believe this...

Here is the best explanation I have come up with to try and explain it ...

Many of the Knife and Tool guys get caught up in the science when they start razor honing, and over the past few years here of trying to explain, that there is no comparison to other types of honing/sharpening, I have finally come up with this statement which seems to make some sense of it...

"The difference in honing a straight razor, when compared to every other type of honing/sharpening is the "Skin Factor" you are taking one of the sharpest edges known to man, and sliding it across your face... It not only has to be sharp it has to be smooth, and that is what creates the difference"


Basically anyone can get a razor sharp, Christ you can raise a burr, then polish it off and have a sharp razor that will even shave,, I can pop an edge off a 1k stone that will shave, where the change occurs is knowing how to get that sharp edge, smooth too...

Why most people do not hone their own razors, is pretty simple really, "the time it takes" to do it, and to learn it... Many of the guys do the re-freshes themselves with either High grit stones and Barber's hones or pastes, and leave the bevel sets and first honings to a pro...

The other thing that always makes me wonder is your statement about "This is my 4th shave" did you hone this razor??? if so how do you know it is even close to as sharp as it can be????

Enjoy...

Just be aware of what you're getting into. Hope this helps a bit.

Warm regards,

Larry

BUY IT !!!!!

Those are fantastic shavers....(Just so long as they are not tore up)...

I just re-did one last week for one of the guys, and it impressed me enough to keep it an extra day for another shave...


Here is the thread,, http://straightrazorpalace.com/custo...ine-dream.html


There are plenty of resources in the workshop forum about making scales also to help you through it

here http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...wers-here.html

BUY BUY BUY!.... In my opinion.

The snakewood alone is worth a heap.

It's a good razor, too. I wouldn't use snakewood for your first re-scaling attempt, but you could hold on to it for later or to send with a blade to a pro....

It's a great deal for all that loot.