Thread: Paul R. Schramm Solingen Germany Razor...

Hey guys, first post here. Just ordered my first straight razor that I can truly call my own. Got it for just a bit over ten dollars shipped off ebay.

I was given a straight by my father when i was 15 as I always had an interest in them, but my mother was very paranoid that I would slit my jugular, so, my fathers gift to me got vetoed.

anyway, I'm a college student with more skill then money, and I figured why not get back into straights the same way I do everything; go cheap, and restore.

My main thing is motorcycles; Over the past three years I've worked on an extremely extensive custom build on a vintage bike, so old nasty metal is nothing im not familiar with. I am a skilled metal polisher (got the nickname buffy on a motorcycle forum i frequent), so be sure to see some nice shiny metal in time. My fathers a carpenter himself, so eventually I'll make some scales once my shaving skills are worthy of a nicer razor.

Enough about myself, heres the gem I picked up. I can't find anything about it online, but it has the following markings...


Paul R. Schramm
Solingen, Germany
201 Blue Steel







I'll be getting myself a norton 4k/8k eventually. I need to save up some extra moola for the time being before I do. I have an assortment of honing stones at home, but they are nasty as they were used for wood chisels for years. not worth wasting time trying to get a sharp edge on a razor using them. Its hard to judge from the picture, but it seems theres a slight frown to the edge, which will have to be cut out. if thats the case, I'll also need some 1k. Either way, should be a fun project, not to mention getting to shave with a proper razor. Unfortunately I'm over an hour from home here at school, so I don't have access to my kick ass 1.5hp buffer (that runs dual 8" wheels on either side, oh yeahhhh) which would make polishing this a complete breeze, but I'd feel safer doing it by hand anyway, as its such a small piece, and I wouldn't want to run the risk of blade catching on the wheel and ultimately chopping off a finger or, even worse, breaking the blade .

If you guys can give me any more info on the razor I'd really appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Rocan

Hey guys, first post here. Just ordered my first straight razor that I can truly call my own. Got it for just a bit over ten dollars shipped off ebay.

I was given a straight by my father when i was 15 as I always had an interest in them, but my mother was very paranoid that I would slit my jugular, so, my fathers gift to me got vetoed.

anyway, I'm a college student with more skill then money, and I figured why not get back into straights the same way I do everything; go cheap, and restore.

My main thing is motorcycles; Over the past three years I've worked on an extremely extensive custom build on a vintage bike, so old nasty metal is nothing im not familiar with. I am a skilled metal polisher (got the nickname buffy on a motorcycle forum i frequent), so be sure to see some nice shiny metal in time. My fathers a carpenter himself, so eventually I'll make some scales once my shaving skills are worthy of a nicer razor.

Enough about myself, heres the gem I picked up. I can't find anything about it online, but it has the following markings...


Paul R. Schramm
Solingen, Germany
201 Blue Steel







I'll be getting myself a norton 4k/8k eventually. I need to save up some extra moola for the time being before I do. I have an assortment of honing stones at home, but they are nasty as they were used for wood chisels for years. not worth wasting time trying to get a sharp edge on a razor using them. Its hard to judge from the picture, but it seems theres a slight frown to the edge, which will have to be cut out. if thats the case, I'll also need some 1k. Either way, should be a fun project, not to mention getting to shave with a proper razor. Unfortunately I'm over an hour from home here at school, so I don't have access to my kick ass 1.5hp buffer (that runs dual 8" wheels on either side, oh yeahhhh) which would make polishing this a complete breeze, but I'd feel safer doing it by hand anyway, as its such a small piece, and I wouldn't want to run the risk of blade catching on the wheel and ultimately chopping off a finger or, even worse, breaking the blade .

If you guys can give me any more info on the razor I'd really appreciate it.

Go for it man! Straights are awesome!!

haha, I'm super excited. Literally was up all night seriously studying some proper shaving stuff.

Had a gift card to target that wouldn't have gotten used so I ordered a colonel ichabod pure badger brush and some almond shave soap. the soap was cheap and got good reviews, especially considering the price.

Do you guys have an online source for natural moisturizer extracts? I'm more the kind of person to make my own moisturizer... Something I really have to remember to do, as I would usually forget to moisturize after a shave and my skin gets dry afterwards. Also open to recommendations on some good soap or creme that wont break the bank. I have a fairly course, full beard, but sensitive skin.


I think im going to go ahead and order myself the whipped dog norton hone set.... shorter stones, but I get all the grits I need for 60 dollars... hard to pass up.

Whipped Dog Straight Razor Shaving Equipment

I figure that will give me a nice enough finish that I can lap and shave, and then I'll invest in a china 12k a little later so that i can get the final hone extremely smooth by having the full hone size to get a nice clean pass.


Any advice is really appreciated!

I really enjoy your enthusiasm, but honing isnt all that easy to pick up. I would suggest a quality razor already honed by a pro, learn the skill set that goes into using a straight and then later on make the jump into stones. Please do some research before making any decision, we have plenty of information available. Welcome to SRP!

Clean him up and sent him to a guy/girl that nows what the are doing whit a hone. You can mess up your first razor when you dont now how to hone.
Its the extra bugs worth, so you start is whit a realy shave ready razor. By the way nice purchase you did. Stick whit it and ask questions when needed.
Have fun

my first time working with a straight razor, yes, but not my first time honing blades. I have a good amount of experience with getting metal to a sharp edge. Besides sharpening knives and chisels since I was 7, I've worked with high speed steel for lathes (which is more grinding, but similar concepts apply), and know how to properly deburr an edge and get a fine consistent high finish edge (worked in a snowboard shop as one of the head repair guys, snowboard edges are a similar concept). Besides that, the amount of time i've spent getting a feel for polishing metal has given me that "touch" that allows me to know when im done with a certain grit and can move on.

I'm going to give it a shot and I'll be able to get it better then whatever it is now. if its still not sharp enough for a shave I'll pass it over to my father whos done it countless times. failing that, off to a pro it goes

By now i've read the wiki here backwards and forth, but I've been studying and doing my research on straights and safeties for over two years now. I do take it all to heart though, but I'm a stubborn bastard and I love teaching myself how to do things.



Quick question... Anyone know if this blade was originally meant to be a square tip? looks rounded from the pictures. I'll probably end up grinding it back to a rounded edge and follow that profile so it'll be a little more forgiving.


heres the engine from my bike. the entire crankcase (bottom end of the engine) is polished, as well as side covers and top cover. couple hundred hours of sanding and polishing into this. unfortunately really dusty in these pics (was doing a lot of fiberglass work that day) so they dont have their usual shine.





I'll keep you all posted as soon as the blade arrives and i can get to cleaning it up and assessing the edge

Originally Posted by Rocan

I think im going to go ahead and order myself the whipped dog norton hone set.... shorter stones, but I get all the grits I need for 60 dollars... hard to pass up.

I figure that will give me a nice enough finish that I can lap and shave, and then I'll invest in a china 12k a little later so that i can get the final hone extremely smooth by having the full hone size to get a nice clean pass.


Any advice is really appreciated!

Altho you have other experience that will assist you, that blade will be a bit of a challenge.
You're going to fumble around with some small stones to fix that razor's frowning edge, cut back the stabiliser if needed after you straighten up the edge & then hope to polish up any discrepancies with a notoriously slow polishing stone. ?
I suppose if you have the patience & dexterity it can be done but life would be a whole lot easier if you used full size Nortons for the edge restore work. I speak from experience. I used to use the 4"x1" DMT's for razor work & it was slow dangerous going.

onimaru... you present a really valid point. I really need to see the blade to decide what I want to do. if its really frowning badly, then I'll need to go after it with a 1k stone, and I'll either need cough up the cash for the full size stones (which I realize in time i'll need anyway), or save a penny now and deal with the shorter stones (though I'd really need to hold the blade to truly think if a smaller size stone will get the job done).

hopefully it just can be done with some long work on the 4k, then a hop up to 8k, then newspaper, then laping. its just the price difference between going full size or miniature size is over 100 dollars.

though if you've done it and know for a fact that the stones are too small, then I'll take your word and wont waste my money.

IMO that blade needs to be pitched, it looks as if it is not only warped but has a serious frown from improper honing.

Originally Posted by Rocan

onimaru... you present a really valid point. I really need to see the blade to decide what I want to do. if its really frowning badly, then I'll need to go after it with a 1k stone, and I'll either need cough up the cash for the full size stones (which I realize in time i'll need anyway), or save a penny now and deal with the shorter stones (though I'd really need to hold the blade to truly think if a smaller size stone will get the job done).

hopefully it just can be done with some long work on the 4k, then a hop up to 8k, then newspaper, then laping. its just the price difference between going full size or miniature size is over 100 dollars.

though if you've done it and know for a fact that the stones are too small, then I'll take your word and wont waste my money.

Like you I started a bit short on cash looking for inexpensive options. I got by but put it this way. I've done it in the past & refuse to do it again
I think a small stone is adequate for finishing purposes eg traditional barber hones might be 4"x2" but for serious repair work you can't beat more real estate on a stone.