i dont understand rolls razors

**roscotanna** · 01-21-2013, 09:03 PM

hi chaps,
i keep seeing people writing about their rolls razors and i have seen quite a few on egay... cough...i mean, ebay, but i dont understand how they're used with the funny looking handle thing inside the box. are they the same thing as an auto strop? do they have disposible blades? what does said 'funny looking handle' do?
its not massively important, im just curious... thanks, Ross

**Steelstubble** · 01-21-2013, 09:17 PM

I've never shaved with one but I inherited two of them and sold them. Basically the handle on the razor locks into place and you can strop and hone it on materials within the metal case. You do not replace the blade to the best of my knowledge. I was never interested in shaving with one but they are pretty interesting little contraptions.

**roscotanna** · 01-21-2013, 09:26 PM

thanks for the quick response and the info! i'm guessing they were around before double edge razors?

**Steelstubble** · 01-21-2013, 09:28 PM

I've handled them but I don't know much more about them. I'm sure someone here knows though.

**JimmyHAD** · 01-21-2013, 09:29 PM

I don't know that they were around before DE razors but they were around along with them. A few of the straight razor mfg's made 'safety' razors that used removable blades that were meant to be honed and stropped besides the Rolls. IIRC Heljestrand and Henckles made something like that.

**BobH** · 01-21-2013, 09:34 PM

rolls razor - YouTube

**roscotanna** · 01-22-2013, 12:38 AM

thanks bob, that clears it up

i couldnt grasp the self strop idea

**johnmrson** · 01-22-2013, 12:49 AM

Think of the Rolls as a cross section of a straight blade on a stick. The top and bottom of the case are a hone and a strop. They give a very good shave when you get the hang of using them.

**Cangooner** · 01-22-2013, 01:01 AM

One other thing if anyone is considering getting one: make sure the hone isn't cracked and the strop isn't damaged. In order to use it properly a damaged hone and/or strop would likely need to be replaced. You can find them undamaged (I got mine in an antique store down in Utica for $10) but I have also seen others on sale for *much* more in essentially unusable condition, usually due to a broken or missing hone.

And as was said above, not only are they a cool curiosity, they can also give pretty darn good shaves! In fact, I may get mine out tonight. Thanks for the reminder.

**BobH** · 01-22-2013, 01:15 AM

Originally Posted by roscotanna

thanks bob, that clears it up

i couldnt grasp the self strop idea

Yea, it is kinda hard to imagine but seeing it in action is much better. They do shave well and cracked hones can be repaired but it is just as easy to buy a cheap one with a good hone and strop. Everyone should have one just for their shear quirkiness if nothing else.

Bob

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