Thread: J.A. Henckels Rapide

Originally Posted by DPflaumer

I still can't get over how beautiful that thing is

I couldnt agree more!

They shave very well and I have not seen a newer one in that nice of condition. Kudos. They usually try to sell them for $400 on the antique store websites. Yours is Circa 1910-1920. There is one that is Circa 1890-1910. I have heard of two of those in existence. One as a complete set.

I own that one and it took me 3 to 4 months of bouncing around the earth to get here.

It has a similar design as that one.

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Here it is side by side with a Comfort Razor circa 1870 - 1890 from Germany. The Comfort was the precursor to the Kampfe brothers razor. In fact I discovered that they Kampfe brothers actually worked in the same factory as the Comfort Razor a few years before the emigrated to the U.S.

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Beautiful absolutely beautiful, i am a straight Razor Man myself, but I am finding it harder and harder to resist these little wonders of engineering and design, I have a Rolls and after honing and stropping the blade with conventional hone and strop, I have to say its performance leaves nothing to be desired. Nothing.
I also have a Valet Autostrop on the way, awesome.
Please excuse my ignorance, but what type of blade do they use? I take it is their own special type of thing as I wouldnt even think they made razor blades back in the 1800's??

Outstanding

They are called wedge razors cause they use a piece of a straight razor. Just a little bit of a hollow ground blade.

PM me for instructions on honing a Rolls. I can get you up an moving.

Originally Posted by singlewedge

They are called wedge razors cause they use a piece of a straight razor. Just a little bit of a hollow ground blade.

PM me for instructions on honing a Rolls. I can get you up an moving.

I didnt realise they where called wedges, that makes sense, kind of like the rolls then?

I have had every success with my rolls, but would love any advice, P.M sent
Thanks very much mate

An update on the status of getting this razor shave ready...

I now have 3 Allegros, lol :-).

First one I bought was the correct model E., except it had the wrond blade attachment. apparently there are 2 blade holders, and a seperate blade attachment. The models are K11 and K12. K11 is the one needed for these wedge blades, the K12 being for other types SE blades. The third peice is a blade attachment labled "a". I think it is for DE blades...

Anyways, the Allegro is useless for restoring an edge. The wedge blades need a bevel reset, and the Allegor simply is incapable of doing that in a timely manner.

I need now to aquire a honing handle for these blades, if anyones has one let me know! lol

I do. If you want to send the blades to me for a hone and set. I'll send them back. Gratis of course.

Thanks for the offer! But it just would not be the same... I have spent months and months trying to find the equipment to get these blades in proper shave ready shape, and it would leave me dry and wasted if I was unable to do them myself Hopefully you understand...

Know where I can find one tho? Or at least where/what I should look for?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by singlewedge

I do. If you want to send the blades to me for a hone and set. I'll send them back. Gratis of course.

I hit the jackpot yesterday! Found a razor honing handle, and a little honing contraption!

The honing contraption is called "STAG". Basically, the blade is held in the holder and you roll it back and forth on the stone and it produces an angled edge. I think it is intended for PURE wedge blades, but should still serve as a good honing device. As an added bonus, it came with a Henckels wedge blade! I am thinking that this actually went to a Henckels Rapide, as there was a Rapide type razor there also that I am pretty sure is an older Henckels Rapide... i'll have to check on some photos today...

Cool, we picked up one of those contraptions a few months ago, not quite knowing what to use it on. I will have to get my Rapide set out and give it a go. Still missing the strop mechanism for mine though.