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.

I think it's worth cleaning up, getting it honed properly and putting it back in service. Use a disposable single edge razor blade to scrape off any rust and crud. Metal polish may brighten it up a bit more but it almost certainly will remove the etching on the blade. Beware of knife sharpening services. While they probably will get the blade sharp it also probably will not be shave ready. Nice razor! Good luck.

I believe that Jowika are very good razors. I've owned a couple in my straight shaving life and I've been very happy with them. It looks to be in pretty good condition. Hone wear is not excessive and just a little staining. I'd certainly clean it up a little, hone it and use it.

Yep, it looks good to me. Some basic cleaning and polishing and some honing and you should have a great shaving razor.

Thank you very much. You helped me a great deal. The only thing to do now is to read a couple of threads about cleaning and find somebody to hone it for me. If someone knows somebody from Austria i would greatly apreciate it. I want to know what shave ready feels like before i try and hone it myself, so i will know roughly what i should be aiming for. Well there is a long journey in front of me and i know i am going to enjoy every minute of it :-) Thanx again.

Nice-looking razor and a good score for 10 EU

Looks that you have made a nice deal !
I saw another JOWIKA #8212 on ebay com in May this year for $30 and it was badly worn down to less than 3/8in...
Yours is a nice single-shouldered 4/8in French-tip with minimal wear and should be a good shaver after some buffing & honing.
Be careful buffing the blade with too abrasive polishing paste or you will loose the nice etching... only cleaning it with some WD40 oil or a mild vinegar will do a better job !
Greetings from Solingen
Rainer