Printable View
So I'm looking into Swedish blades, and wanted to see if anyone knew the difference between the Heljestrand MK line and the Rex line. I know the MK line is highly sought after, but didn't know if the Rex was a different grade, just another name, or something else. I'm having a tough time finding info on the various Helje models.
Thanks in advance for any info! :beer1:
I bought two NOS Rex"s about a year ago. Was one of the best purchases I ever made. I only honed one of them, and it is one of the best shavers I ever used. Buy the Rex without concern. Will take a fantastic edge. Best, wildhog
They are, as far as I know, made by two different companies in the same city.
Thanks, guys! Thanks for letting me know how yours performs, wildhog. I may just pick one up.
I have a couple of both. The Rex's are very nice shavers. You won't be disappointed in them.
George P, You didn"t mention blade width on the Rex. Mine are 9\16 as are a lot of Swiss blades. Small, but shaves really smooth. Best, wildhog
I have no particular knowledge but I always thought they were two independent companies, along the lines of the many separate companies located in Soligen, Germany. That said I have yet to run into a Swedish blade that was not a great shaver and my REX 8 is one of my best, it has simple plastic scales that make a fillies scales look like works of art but the blade is excellent.
Wildhog,
Glad to know your enjoying them!
OP,
I have the same REX number 42 that Wildhog is referring to, and it is one of my best shavers.
I have a Joh Engstrom frameback and a MK Heljestrand and have owned an Erik Anton Berg in the past as well as a Klass Tornblom. What I will tell you is I doubt you'll ever be disappointed with a Swedish Steel.
Thanks to all for the suggestions. I picked up a couple Swedes from Mijbil. Both are great. It's his fault I'm considering another. :gaah:
It turns out that Royal Shave apparently has some CV Helje Rex 5/8" full hollows. They claim they're NOS from the '40s.
Can you provide a link? I would be curious (for the sake of learning the history) to see something that shows Rex and Heljestrand were the same company or affiliated in some way.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheGeorgePBurdell
Thanks. Can anyone read the tang? I wish they showed the box, too.
I wish I could read the tang as well, to me they look like a normal REX, based on the scales, point and shape of the tail.
Forgot to attach pic - this one is a '42' in 9/16 and 1/4 hollow:
Attachment 71083
I rolled the dice and ordered one. We'll see if its marked Helje anywhere. If not, it may go back. :rofl2:
If it says Rex and not Heljestrand, I wouldn't really be bothered whatsoever. Both in my opinion are equally excellent.
Good to know! Thanks, Scipio.
Just to follow-up - the razor from Royal Shave is marked Rex, just like the one Scipio shows above. However, after checking with the good folks at Royal Shave, they said the razors were manufactured by Heljestrand. These are NOS razors in the original factory carton. The outer carton in which the razors were shipped is marked Heljestrand, Ekilstuna - Sweden, MK No. 3- 5/8", 1/2 dz., with six Rex razors packed inside. The carton is the same color as the Rex box, and both the carton and the Rex box say "finest Swedish steel."
Interesting, I'd very much like to see it.
Not that I don't believe what Royal is telling you, but it would have interested me more to see some historical evidence that the two companies are/were tied together in some way.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheGeorgePBurdell
Regardless, I've used/owned several of each mark and thoroughly enjoyed them all.
Here you go, with permission from the good folks at Royal Shave:
http://gallery.me.com/pburrus4/10005...13081786630001
http://gallery.me.com/pburrus4/10005...13081786640001
Maybe I'm missing something, but I'm just seeing a Helje box with Rex razors in it. Does something on the Helje box say Rex / does something on the Rex razors say Helje? Don't take this the wrong way, but I have a Filly box I could fill with Genco razors in Genco coffins.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheGeorgePBurdell
I'm just the messenger on the pictures. However, the outer carton says No. 3 - 5/8", and the Rex is a 5/8" with a "3" stamped on the rear side of the shank. Also, I've been searching, and I can't find anything on a Rex Razor Company in Eskilstuna. I found a Rex from New York in 1918, but nothing from Sweden. Does anyone know if there actually was a Rex company in Eskilstuna? It looks to me like my Rex is Helje made.
I agree with Dylan on this. While there may indeed be a connection between Heljestrand and Rex, the box above doesn't prove it. The sticker with the No 3 and 5/8" on it is stuck on, and could have been added at any time. It's still a possibility that RS found a bunch of Rex razors that were stored in a Heljestrand box. The fact that the box is marked MK makes this pretty likely.
While this is curious from a historical standpoint, of course, the shave will be great regardless of the manufacturer. I've had many Swedish blades, from many makers and they all shaved similarly (depending on size and grind, of course).
Exactly.Quote:
Originally Posted by holli4pirating
In all probability the seller may have received them from Sweden like that. Having used several of each, I could not say one was better than the other; although REX seems to be a lesser known brand they are equally excellent.
You guys may be right. However, if Helje didn't make the Rex, who did? I still haven't found any record of any company named Rex existing in Eskilstuna.
REX made REX, the same way DOVO makes DOVO! REX is the manufacturer and in the example I gave above, '42' is the series.
Can you point me to a link that shows a Rex existed in Eskilstuna? I can't find any documentation of such a company. A mark on the shank doesn't mean there was a company with that name. Honda makes Honda, but Honda also makes Acura. I'm just trying to confirm there was actually a Rex company in Eskilstuna. I can't find any mention of it on the web.
This is a REX #3 fully 11/16 wide and brand new w/coffin.
I also have a Heljestrand and it is a very good shaver. I don't believe
I've ever heard anything bad about Swedish razors.
Just remembered I have another Rex. This is a hefty 13/16 GOLD REX.......
This one fits my hand perfectly. Thanks Justin.......Attachment 71632
__________________________________Quote:
Originally Posted by TheGeorgePBurdell
My REX #3 is definitely stamped Eskilstuna Sweden.
Gold Rex were Japanese made, I believe.....from Swedish Steel, in this case. Telly had a few NOS ones for sale a while ago and I'm pretty sure he said they were from Japan.Quote:
Originally Posted by mrsell63
Rex, on the other hand is Swedish.
Can you point me to a link that shows that a Rex DIDN'T exsit in Eskilstuna? Do you have any documentation to suggest that there WASN'T such a company?Quote:
Originally Posted by TheGeorgePBurdell
Seriously, though, is there any reason to doubt that Rex was it's own company, other than those photos (of which I and perhaps others are at least a little skeptical about)?
