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Hey Folks!
So i'm thumbing through the classifieds and found someone looking to get rid of some "junk". In the list there was a Griffon XX straight razor and she wanted $15.00 for it. Naturally I inquired to see if she could send me a picture. The blade doesn't look too bad - some spine wear and rust stains - but the rust looks to be semi-active.
What do y'all think - is it worth the $15 and 30 minute drive to go and get it? I've attached a pic below.
Hard to say for sure from the pic but the rust looks to be superficial, none at the edge. If there are no cracks metal polish on a paper towel will probably clean it up enough to where I would hone it and use it. YMMV.
As the old boy sez, "It ain't much fer purty, but it's hell for stout." Griffon put out a very good quality razor and it should make you a good shaver. Fifteen bucks is a good price for a razor you will probably have to invest some time cleaning it up and having it honed. Factor in your time and gas and you will have to decide how those affect your bottom line.
Regards - Walt
Provided there aren't any cracks - I think it will be well worth it. It will give me my first experience in restoration and I'm going to take my sweet time with it. Thank you both for your insight on this and when I'm finished with the resto - I'll post some pictures back up here on the board.
Thanks gentlemen! :chapeau
Yesterday I met up witht he folks that were selling the $15 Griffon. After seeing that there weren't any cracks, I decided to buy it. I got it home and tried to dig some history out of it. Not much available on the internet - all I found was that this was a pre-1940's razor. But I took some better pictures of it and wanted everyone's opinion. There is a very small amount of toe and heel wear.
Its a 5/8 full hollow blade. I've read on here that restoring a full hollow isn't all that easy being that there isn't much metal left on the blade to sand off. The scales aren't too bad - they look like bakelite and have a small nick just above the pivot, but it does show some tarnish spots on the scales.
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Where did you get the comment about restoring a 5/8" from? There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with that razor as it stands - you could get ih honed and use it. If you want to get some wet and dry paper and take some of the scratches out there still plenty of metal left for you to go at.
I didn't read that it was too difficult to sand on a 5/8. Just that its not so easy doing it on a blade with a full hollow grind.
On pics 1-3, the large black mark towards the heel is raised, so that couldn't be tarnish. Maybe inactive rust or just some dirt - though it wasn't coming off with the scrape of a thumbnail.
Your razor looks to be in fair decent condition. If you are worried about taking too much metal off by sanding, try OOOO steel wool with some metal polish. Give her a good going over and you may be surprised.
Bob
Looks like I'll be making a trip to Walmart on my way home today. Is there a metal polish that you would recommend?
You only have to worry about a full hollow blade if there is very deep pitting. Your razor doesn't fit into that catagory. While at Walmat pick up some wet/dry sandpaper in the auto section. They sometimes stock a combination pack with a variety of grits. Make sure you get 2000 grit for a final sanding. Any metal polish will do. Maas is good, but Meguires or any other name brand will do.
Regards - Walt
Blue Magic works real well, use that and some 000 synthetic steel wool at first, you be amazed with the results
Quote:
Originally Posted by cahnwulf
Griffon Cutlery operated out of New York City for a very long time. Very good products. In fact, they had their own factory in Solingen, the Perfectum Works . Here is some info I borrowed! :D
14 to 42 - 19th Street
and this: http://www.14to42.net/griffon-solingen.html
Thanks for the info sharptonn - I came across that same info as well. Griffon Cutlery Works changed their name to Griffon Cutlery Corp in 1940. The tang on my razor is stamped Griffon Cutlery Works, so I know that my razor is at least pre-1940. The only other info I could find was an old advertisment from 1912 (I think) that was showing the Griffon Safety Razor Stropping Machine. Im trying to find more archives as that advert says you can mail them a request for their catalogue ... if I can find that - then I could find out more info on my razor. Griffon #94 XX
Revisited
So I took the advice of some on here along with info in the Wiki and ive cleaned the blade up a bit using Eagle One Never Dull (couldn't find any Maas at Wallyworld). Working with progressive grits 400, 600, 800 and 1000. Got a little carried away on the tang as you can see from the copper color. For my first attempt and my first razor, don't think I did too bad. Thanks for your help fellas!
Pics coming
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