Thread: Rolls Razor, Heljestrand

I have always fancied uising a Rolls or Heljestrand safety razor. The reason I fancy them? 1: you got to hone & strop them yourself, 2: industrially honed blades give me terrible bleeds in the neck area when new.

Has anyone of you experience with them?


In case you haven't go a clue: Rolls Razor; - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

rolls razor instructions - Google Video

Vintage C V Heljestrand 7-day set + 7 spare blades on eBay, also, Barber Shop Shaving, Vanity Perfume Grooming, Collectables (end time 23-Jun-08 18:20:36 BST)

I have a number of rolls razors and they are great, providing you can get them sharp. I prefer them to any DE but not as much as a straight.


They are numerous and cheap on eBay. Blades for them are very cheap and plentiful too if you want to build up a seven day set. In my experience it is worth spending that bit extra to get a very good one in great condition as if the strop / hone part is very worn you may have problems getting the blades shave sharp. My favored model is the viscount.


They are very easy to use and you get a very nice shave from them; provided you get a nice one.



I would recommend one.

I own one. They're kind of nice....but DAMN they're noisy when you hone/strop them.

Originally Posted by Kees

In case you haven't go a clue: Rolls Razor; - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I dunno... according to that article the company had better success selling washing machines than razors. It would be a fun exercise to strop those little miniature wedge-looking blades though

Speaking of which... Rolls that is, I picked up a rather nice kit, pretty clean but the hone is broken.... I remember seeing someone had replacement hones available but have since lost the link. For some silly reason, I thought it was Tilly of redtrader99 fame but I see her site is gone so if that was the case, I'm probably sol. The strop, blade, and all the other bit except for the hone is in excellent condition, the blade is almost shaving sharp as well so I'd love to get this kit working if at all possible. I know I could grab a few more kits off ebay in hopes of getting a good hone out of the deal but buying a clean used or better yet NOS hone would be better.

Regards

Christian

it was tilly that sold them
she sold them in pack of 5 hones
ask her maybe she still have 1 or 2 left

Originally Posted by kaptain_zero

Speaking of which... Rolls that is, I picked up a rather nice kit, pretty clean but the hone is broken.... I remember seeing someone had replacement hones available but have since lost the link. For some silly reason, I thought it was Tilly of redtrader99 fame but I see her site is gone so if that was the case, I'm probably sol. The strop, blade, and all the other bit except for the hone is in excellent condition, the blade is almost shaving sharp as well so I'd love to get this kit working if at all possible. I know I could grab a few more kits off ebay in hopes of getting a good hone out of the deal but buying a clean used or better yet NOS hone would be better.

Regards

Christian

Look here:
ROLLS RAZOR HONE AND 3 BLADES IN ORIGINAL PACKING - eBay (item 360061506208 end time Jun-20-08 10:42:14 PDT)

I just bought a perfect one yesterday (apart from a tiny nick in the strop side) no effect on stroping though! I bought it just to have a look at one. It was £1
For anyone who doesn't know its a very well engineered metal box that has a mechanism inside that strops and hones a 1 1/2 section of heavy 1/4 ground wedge (about). It has a little handle that the blade fits onto for use. The blade has a little guard that flips back and fore.
It's like shaving with a section of a straight on a little handle.
The shave isn't as close as a very well honed straight, but is better than a slightly dull edge.
The mechanism on mine is pretty darn good at it's job, all things considered.
It is harder to get good shaving angles than a straight, but not too hard.
I used the hone side for a couple of swipes, then the strop side for 30 or so swipes.
The shave wasn't bad at all.
It's what men who don't want to use a straight should be using. It's good for the enviroment like Straights too
Another great British invention, that went down the pan Damn shame.

I have a Rolls Razor and love it. I got it from eBay and then got another for spare parts. The Rolls is what I use when I don't want to carry a strop when traveling (checked luggage though). It's a little hard to get under the nose compared to a straight because the blade is so deep. Every once in a (long) while you have to take a real hone to it. Otherwise I do 50 passes on the strop each time I use it since it has such a short strop.

Hi Iron Beard, I saw a 2nd one in the car boot sale, I didn't look at it as the one I bought had the box, slip and instructions, and I initialy bought it just to see how they worked.
If I'd have known how usable they are I'd have got the other one too.
Maybe we could have a club in the razor section?
Cheers M