Thread: Jowika Solingen - is it any good?

HI!

I have been a DE shaver for 2 years but i have recently decided to try shaving with a straight razor. Since i come from Slovenia it is almost imposible for me to buy a decent straight razor here nor do i have any experience what to buy and where to buy it. That is why i joined this forum, to learn from your experts

However, a few days ago i have found this razor on the flea maket and bought it just for 10€. I would like to ask you guys if you think if it is worth the effort of restoring it and trying to shave whith it or should i just add it to colectibles.

It is a Jowika, Full hollow ground, made in Germany. Date of production is unknown. Very Sharp

About the brand itself:

The full name of the firm was: Jowika Stahlwarenfabrik Eugen Weber & Altenbach KG.

It was founded in Solingen prior to 1928, under the name Johann & Wilhelm Kleinewefers GMBH, Messerfabrik. JWK for short, hence JoWiKa.

Sold to Eugen Weber in the 1930s. Weber was married to a woman named Altenbach, from a family that manufactured innovative low-priced pocketknives, as well as other cutlery items.

In 1960 Weber opened a branch factory in Listowel Ireland. It was sold to Albert M. Baer of Imperial Schrade in 1978; he kept on the German born manager. The Listowel factory was closed about a year and a half before the U.S. Schrade factory closed. Les deAsis of Benchmade bought some of its newer machinery (he said it cost more to ship than to buy).

The Jowika factory in Solingen closed in 1984.