Thread: Pop's old razor

Hi all. I was going through my late grandad's effects and stumbled upon his old pipe and his old straight razor. The name on the butt of the blade is Henckels and under that is Solingen-Germany. It is about 5.5 inches closed and about 8.75 open. The handles are a light yellowish colour due to age and could either be bone or ivory. Both ends of the handle appear to be capped in silver with nice classic scrollwork engraving. The other side of the blade is marked Twin Works and "Platinum" Carbon Steel Blade, Reg.U.S.Pat.Off. I'm trying to find out a, how old it is b, is it real or fake c, what are the handles made from and d, what would be an approximate value on such a razor? I am thinking about starting a collection of old razors to display next to my collection of vintage and antique bar ware, glassware, ashtray's and advertising. Would this razor be worth starting my collection off or should I get rid of it?
Would this have been a rare item in Australia?
Any responses will be gratefully accepted. Thankyou
hx350chev.

(sorry for the poor pictures)

a. Somewhere in the first half of the twentieth century.
b. Real (see no reason for it to be fake).
c. Don't really know but I kind of doubt it. An Australian member said once that most of the razors he sees down there are English but Henkels were prolific and shipped everywhere too so…
d. Such valuations are frowned on here due to price being a subjective thing. If I had my Grandad's razor you'd have to pry it from my cold dead hands.

So I should keep it as the starting point of a small collection? ( I like the Charelton Heston reference )

I feel that whatever the razor value is, its really unimportant here, personally i would clean up get back into shape and use it.
I dont have my granpa razor but i do have many of his woodworking tools and i use them and treasure them, and they will be passed on to my son who was name after him.

hx350, what you do with it is entirely up to you, however, if it were mine I would not part with it for the world being as it was my grandad's.
AFAIK Henkels weren't all that rare in Australia, however, they make great shavers.
If I were to make a suggestion, I would say have it honed up, use it and give it the respect it deserves.
If it holds no sentimental value to you just PM me and I'll give it pride of place in my rotation.
No disrespect intended.

Originally Posted by hx350chev

So I should keep it as the starting point of a small collection? ( I like the Charelton Heston reference )

Since you're asking… buy a shave ready razor or two. Learn to shave. Buy some stones (or stone), maintain the edges and learn the strokes. Bring Grandaddy's piece back into service. You know it makes sense.

I realize that there are many people out there that are strictly collectors, with no aspirations to take up SR shaving. And that's fine, nothing wrong with that. Seeing as this is an heirloom razor, I say clean it up real nice (showroom condition) and display it with pride.

Thanks for the responses. I will keep it to honour my grandad. He passed when I was a baby so I never knew him. Nan said he was so proud of his grandkids and I feel a strong connection with him. Thankyou all.

R.I.P Grandad.

Good choice for sure you wont regret it!

Anyone got any makers names that are good but not too expensive for a collector just starting out?