Just found this at a local antique shop...thought it looked pretty cool and seems to be in good shape too. My first barbers notch!
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Just found this at a local antique shop...thought it looked pretty cool and seems to be in good shape too. My first barbers notch!
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Oh gosh I need to get one of those! I happen to share the same last name. That looks like a great find, thanks for sharing! I hope it brings you many years of BBS shaves.
I have one of those. They have a distinct double grind. I believe that the razor was first ground with an 8 inch stone, hence the name. They shave very nice! :D
I have a couple of Simmons also. Will restore soon. They intrigue me since I am from Missouri.
Great razor, fantastic American company, must be a pretty early razor as their is no sign of the famous Keen Kutter Logo!
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It shows 1902 stamped into it, but I think that's just the patent date, so not sure how old it might be. From what I've gathered the company quit making things in the late 1930s, so it's still pretty old either way.
Cleaned it up a bit tonight and unfortunately, it is in dire need of a honing. Was hoping a little CrOx would fix it up enough to try out, but no such luck. I really need to get my own hones one of these days, but it looks like for now ill have to send it out before trying it.
I have a Simmons. Being born and raised here in Missouri I had to have it.
Mine was a poor purchase though as I did not spot the wrinkle in the toe. I had to enlarge the notch and take a bit off the toe to make it usable...but I still like it;)
Yours looks like a nice example though. I hope you enjoy it.
Oh,and it's a 4/8...didn't notice that when I bought it, guess I was too excited. So I'm sure that'll be fun, I've only used 5/8 up to to point. My wife does use a 4/8 though.
Well, it should arrive back in the mail today after getting a good honing. Can't wait to try it out.
Several pages from Simmons Hardware Co. catalogs:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...tml#post602268
Cool, thanks for the catalog links...neat stuff!
deffinatly a cool find. awesome work man :)
Unfortunately, it seems the honing job may not have been as good as it could have, and I'd hate to send it out again. From the middle to the heel is good and keen, though from the middle out to the toe, not quite so great. Led to a pretty sub-par first shave...kind of disappointing. I do have some of the Thiers Issard paste coming on Thursday. I'm hoping that will bring out the edge on the toe end. It's not dull, but just uneven across the blade and I really hope the paste can fix me up.
Brought it up to par! I got my TI paste in the mail today and figured I'd give it a go on my newest razor since the hone job wasn't the best...figured it couldn't hurt to try the paste. It took a while of paste/crox/IrOx/strop then test. Did the rounds of that 3-4 times (yes it did take a while), but it shaves amazing now. Almost as good as my dovo, it could use a bit more work, but still very acceptable.
So apparently this paste works pretty good, and it lets me enjoy the newest razor addition.
My two Keen-Kutters are excellent shavers.
I have a 5/8" number 8 that I really like.Was pretty dull but honed and stropped real easy and shaves great!
Slawman
One of my favorites at this moment,
a 6/8" pre-KeenKutter Simmons.
Doesn't say where it was made,
so before 1891?. Correct me if I'm wrong.
A flea market find. Quick touch on a
B-hone & stropped, it shaves well.
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E.C. Simmons started out in Sheffield if i remember right. I have some Keen Kutter's & they are astonishing. I have one Keen Kutter that is mint & dressed in Ivory scales. I'll find it & post a pic.
I just got a mine in the mail. Wanting to research it better and try to nail down a date range. Attachment 270803
I think I have one of those. That's a beauty. Very little hone wear on it or it's just the way it looks. That would be a good candidate for some Mother's, Maas or Flitz. It'll shine like a new one.Quote:
Originally Posted by mdeamicis
As far as I can tell. It's barely used.Quote:
Originally Posted by engine46
That keen kutter royal I got for 15 bucks turned out to be a real good shaver. Spent the afternoon with a good mentor getting her polished, re beveled, honed add stopped. Now she's a better shaver than I am and a right proper razor to learn on.
I bet it polished out well. It only looked like the blade was tarnished some. Usually some polish will clean it up & there will be a lot of black crap on the rag but it should be shining very nicely.Quote:
Originally Posted by mdeamicis
That's good you had a mentor to help you out with it. Congrats on a nice find.
Very minor pitting along the hollows and of course the edge had puting visible with a jewelers loop. And some tarnish in the crevices at the shoulder. The tarnish along the hollow in the pictures os actually a result if my wiping it with alcohol and letting it sit a few hours. I didn't notice when I took the pictures and it buffed out in a couple minutes. It's near perfect now. I may pour some love into it if I get a a second razor. Which is likely as I'm still drooling at an etched shoulderless Aust. I like the Bismarck as well. Probably buy a full restore candidate on fleabay so I can practice honing on something I can't hurt.Quote:
Originally Posted by engine46
That's good. That's how ya do it is get you one that is cheap in price. I bet you were surprised at how that one polished out. What did you use to polish it with? One of those three I previously mentioned works well. You know it's working when the blade is looking better plus the rag will have black crap on it. Even after you polish it shiny & polish it more, it will still have that black on the rag but usually not as heavy.Quote:
Originally Posted by mdeamicis
