Thread: Rolls Razor

I own and use a rolls razor and can say honestly that it is a very good shaver. As goshawk already mentioned the hone and strop mechanism are very short and meant to upkeep an already sharp blade not bring a dull one back to life.

The very first SE (single edge) safety razors all had wedge blades (kinda like a piece of a straight) that were meant to be honed and stropped just like straights. The rolls was an attempt to modernize the honing and stropping process with its built in mechanism.

if you are interested in SE razors like the Rolls I recommend checking out theoriginalsafety it is a wetshaving forum dedicated to SE razors.

something worth mentioning about the Rolls is when sharpening the blade using the hone be sure to be gentle and not just slap the blade back and forth on the hone. This can crack the hone or chip the blade. 2 audable clicks should be heard the first when the guard on the blade touches the hone and the second when the guard colapsses and allows the blade itself to come into contact with the hone.

The instructions that were packed in the Rolls Razor case:

Picture of blade & handle. The Rolls Razor has given me smoth shaves, and I enjoy using it on occasions. I have about a dozen of them.

You are lucky one.

I just got one, and had my first shave with it today... and it was SUPERB! I keep seeing here not to slap the blade on the hone, which makes sense.. but the instructions clearly say to use the strop pretty quickly.. the instructions state 60 double trips per minute... how can I NOT slap the blade when doing it that quickly on the strop? Or does it not matter as much on the strop side?

I've been shaving daily with a Rolls since the early seventies. I get very good comfortable shaves with it. The blade I've been using all these years finally wore out a few weeks ago. So I've started in on a new blade which I've had for many years waiting for the first to give up the ghost. I agree with the post cautioning about not letting the blade slap down on the stone. You also have to clean the stone so it doesn't get choked with steel filings from the honing process. Also resist honing until the blade begins to pull or otherwise indicates that it's time to hone. You need to strop at least as many strokes as you would use on a straight.

I have used one a few times and they are a decent razor and 1 razor that is easy to grab here in the uk.

I don't think I've ever seen one that was used so much that the blade "used up"! I'm curious to see how short your blade is after using it for 40 years. You mind posting a pic of your blade?

Originally Posted by jascas

I've been shaving daily with a Rolls since the early seventies. I get very good comfortable shaves with it. The blade I've been using all these years finally wore out a few weeks ago. So I've started in on a new blade which I've had for many years waiting for the first to give up the ghost. I agree with the post cautioning about not letting the blade slap down on the stone. You also have to clean the stone so it doesn't get choked with steel filings from the honing process. Also resist honing until the blade begins to pull or otherwise indicates that it's time to hone. You need to strop at least as many strokes as you would use on a straight.

i only wish i had a rolls razor they are nice i have a valet auto strop and its ok i guess

They are all over eBay. The last couple I picked up in antique shops. Think i gave 20 for one that looked new in box, had the directions and a sales slip.