Thread: new straights

hey all been a while since i posted but just acquired 3 new (well to me anyway) razors was wondering if any one could give me any info on them the first is T H WILSON & SONS at least i think its sons the second is J W MEESONS & SONS PILOT RING and the white one is N SMITH & SONS with THE TEM etched on the blade all blades where forged in sheffield. thanks all in advance

Hi Rincewind, and welcome to SRP from another Pratchett fan!

I can't say anything about the brands of your razors, but Sheffield steel is reliably good stuff. All three appear to have heavy hone wear, but on the first one at least it's even. The second and third have honed-out toes, that is, they're narrower at the toe than at the heel. This is from someone bearing down on the end of the blade at the end of their honing stroke.

The one I'd most like to try is the second, with its shoulderless grind. That is, there are no stabilizers at the blade's heel. I find those more user-friendly at the hone and at the strop.

That's an odd spot for rust on the first razor; I'd check the scales to see if there was a worm at that spot once upon a time. I had a razor with oddly placed spots like that, and when I took it apart, there were matching old worm holes in the scales. Anyway, rust begets rust--clean that spot up a bit with some metal polish and put some gun oil on the blade.

Or, instead of gun oil, get some Renaissance Wax and put a few coats on the blades. That will not only waterproof them and make them shiny, it'll also make them rinse clean much more easily.

Best wishes to you