Thread: Razors

Got three razors, could use some help identifying them. Possibly dating them, rating them, and finding out if they can and should be used. Would hate to use something that should be saved for future generations. Any Information would be greatly appreciated. Descriptions below, pics attached.

Thanks
Gary

Chip A Way- Made in England with original box

Enterprise Laboratories- "The J.R. Torrey" US, with Original box

Bullard & Gormley Co.- Made in Germany (Blue Steel), with Original box

These are tools. No offense, but there are millions of them and in my opinion it is better to make use of them rather than to save them for future generations. All three of those will make perfectly good shavers. They can be cleaned up and made both shiny and sharp, or they can simply be honed to sharp and be used as shavers in their present condition. It really depends on what you want from them.

Originally Posted by Utopian

These are tools. No offense, but there are millions of them and in my opinion it is better to make use of them rather than to save them for future generations. All three of those will make perfectly good shavers. They can be cleaned up and made both shiny and sharp, or they can simply be honed to sharp and be used as shavers in their present condition. It really depends on what you want from them.

+1. Saving such "stuff" for future generations is a noble idea but at some point the logic traps us into an endless chain of not doing. Put them back at the coal face would be my advice. Good luck.

Utopian! I agree! They were made to be used! My Great Grandfathers' Wade and Butcher Wedge is in Glens very capable hands for restoration. My soon to be 18 year old son is frothing at the mouth to shave with his Great Great Grandfathers razor!

By the way my Great Grandfather passed way in 1933!

Okay, so I guess the next step, would be getting them ready to use huh? So who wants to do the restoration, and how much do you want to do it?

Originally Posted by Grandson77

Okay, so I guess the next step, would be getting them ready to use huh? So who wants to do the restoration, and how much do you want to do it?

Honestly, I'd encourage you to do it yourself, starting with the Torey.

I have a Torey, and it's a great shaver, but that one looks like it has a bit of a frown, so you have less to lose.

Then move on to the Chip, and save the B&G for last.

These particular razors, as Utopian pointed out, will all take a good edge and make excellent shavers. However, they're not 'rare and special' razors that you would want to invest a significant amount of money into. You can unpin them with tools you probably already have on hand, hand-sand the blades following the directions in the wiki until they are as shiny as you want them to be, polish up the scales a bit, and re-peen them with inexpensive brass rod and washers.

You'll quickly find that the folks who usually do restorations for money do an extremely high caliber restoration, and charge accordingly. (not a complaint. They earn every penny) That makes it a better deal for the 'rare and special' razors, razors that you happen to really love as shavers, or family heirlooms like your great grandfather's razor.

If you really want to invest in a full restoration, then you'd do best to take a look at the guys offering it in the classifieds. However, you'd probably get a great deal more satisfaction by doing as much clean-up on your own as you can, and then just sending them out for honing.

Originally Posted by Grandson77

Okay, so I guess the next step, would be getting them ready to use huh? So who wants to do the restoration, and how much do you want to do it?

Soliciting work to be performed for you is not allowed on the open forums. Check the custom builds and restoration forum, classifieds members services and the vendors corner to find people that do the type of work you like. Contact them through PM's and not in the open forum. You have been warned.