I Think I Inherited a Great Collection

Hello guys,


I'm new to the place. Last week I had a post over in the Newbie area regarding whether or not the Dovo Silver Steel is suitable for someone new to straight razor shaving.


My grandfather passed away two years ago at the ripe age of 100. He was a medic and barber in WWII, and when my father was going through the estate he found all of my grandfather's old razors and a strop. I've been talking about shaving with a straight for years but have never made the plunge, using a DE safety razor instead. My father thought I may want the razors, which I was happy to receive.


Lately I've decided it's time to move to the straight, and I've been doing a lot of reading about vintage razors. This reminded me of the razors I inherited and I took a look through them again - this time since I'm more familiar with the vintage models and brands, I recognized quite a few. I thought I'd take pictures tonight and share the collection with you.


I have no interest in passing any of these on due to their sentimental value. With the exception of maybe one, I don't even plan to attempt to use them and will instead probably put them in a shadow box to display.


As far as I can tell, here are the razors:

• Henckels
• Shumate
• dubl duck
• 20th Century Baby
• Bear
• Franklin S. Co
• Mono
• Snappy
• Paramount
• Bengali

The strop is made by Aberdeen.


There are also the original boxes for the Mono and the Paramount. The scales of the Paramount are engraved with my grandfather's name, James Kendall. He spent his whole life in and around the Brandenburg, KY area, outside of Louisville, and a few of the pieces indicate they were purchased in Louisville.


Age has taken its toll on many of these pieces. There are rust spots, warped scales, and one razor even has a serious chip. Because they're all square points, I won't be trying to use them anytime soon.


I apologize for the quality (or lack thereof) of many of these photos. I used the wife's camera and I'm not much of a photographer.


Pictures are at www.photobucket.com/bkendall_razors. I believe there are way too many pictures to embed into the post.

Tough break on the Bengali, maybe it can be shortened. The Paramount & Henckels are beauties. All have the potential to shave again, Great collection. Time to start restoring them.

Thank you for sharing them.

Nice collection! I'd suggest sending the Bengal to gsixxgun for a restoration honing. He can hone in a nice round point on that, and you can shave with it. I'm with you on square points; I'll shave with them but really prefer a round. I hate to hear of razors in shadowboxes; they're tools to be used. But you have a meaningful collection and it's none of my business.

How's the strop? Usable?

Best wishes to you.

That is a fine collection, Sir.

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Originally Posted by roughkype

Nice collection! I'd suggest sending the Bengal to gsixxgun for a restoration honing. He can hone in a nice round point on that, and you can shave with it. I'm with you on square points; I'll shave with them but really prefer a round. I hate to hear of razors in shadowboxes; they're tools to be used. But you have a meaningful collection and it's none of my business.

How's the strop? Usable?

Best wishes to you.

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Not sure about the strop - I've never used a straight. I planned on buying an entry-level Dovo and strop kit from Lynn soon. I'm not sure if the crack in the blade shows up well on the pictures of the Bengali - can it be honed that far down and still be usable?

You have a point - many of these would be fine razors, if not for the pointed ends. I may restore them over time and try a few once I'm more comfortable. The Paramount, while probably the best-looking of them, I'll probably leave and display. I don't want to remove the engraved scales.

It'll cost me a fortune in restoration for all of these. :boohoo:

I would think get the best 2 going and preserve the rest. You can always get them done one at a time later. It IS your grandfather's legacy! Oh, and get a new strop! :gl:

I would be thinking REAL serious about getting this one
http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/...s/f3970dee.jpg

rescaled. the celluloid in DD's is FAMOUS for going south and ruining everything around it. :(

NICE looking inheritance. As for square points? Several of those are honed back enough on the point where they won't be so quick to bite. I'd get some of 'em honed up and get busy learning to shave with 'em. ;)

I didn't notice a crack in the Bengal. If there's just that chip then I think it can be honed into a round point. If there's a crack, that could be another story.

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Originally Posted by roughkype

I didn't notice a crack in the Bengal. If there's just that chip then I think it can be honed into a round point. If there's a crack, that could be another story.

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You should be able to see it in this picture. http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/...s/71fc7221.jpg

It comes up almost at a 45 degree angle from where the point would be, then goes almost parallel to the cutting edge.

Ouch! Hirlau was right, then, it'd have to be shortened to be saved. Too bad.

You may be surprised and enjoy the square points. I'm still fairly new to straights and have grown to like the square points.

Pick up a round point to get used to using a straight then move into the square. Once you round them out there's no going back.

Great collection! A shadow box is a nice idea to keep them safe and on display until you're ready to test the waters further.


...it's about the journey not the destination.

Great collection to inherit! Don't fear the them, once you get started you'll soon have the technique to use them with ease. I only have one razor from my Grandfather, it's a square point and only bit me once when I was rushing a few years back. Lesson learned. As mentioned earlier get them restored as and when you can and it won't hurt so much financially. Enjoy using them :D

Shame about the Bengal and there's a lot of wear on some of the others (though not all, and wear does not always equal bad shaver anyway). The Key is that you have many razors used by your Grandad. I don't even have one of mine. I envy you, lucky man.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by roughkype

Ouch! Hirlau was right, then, it'd have to be shortened to be saved. Too bad.

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Maybe... and then again... maybe not. It would depend on how much the steel would flex. A properly honed blade with little to no pressure applied may not have an issue other than cosmetic. The point would at least have to be muted, without any doubt, the rest.... only a honing and usage will tell.