Rolls Razor

**Qatsats** · 11-14-2010, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by technika1

Here in the uk these are in almost every antique shop i visit, i have 2, a nos and a leather cased one which i do use now and again, the one thing i have found though is sharpening the blade, the only way i got my blades sharp was to use my honing stones, the supplied hone just did not get it sharp, to short, once i got the blade sharp via my stones, the supplied hone/strop will keep it touched up, but from my experiance they need a good honing first, once that is done they do give a very good shave, kinda like a straight on a stick

The photos I've found online focus on showing the condition of the pieces but not the process. I'd like to find a series of photos or a video showing the honing/stropping process. It would be fun to see someone actually doing a shave with the equipment. Can I convince one of you owners to do that for the rest of us?

**pcb01** · 11-14-2010, 05:49 PM

They are a lovely piece of kit, worth owning for that and the history alone.

I agree that the enclosed hone is not the way to get these blades sharp. Instead, just hone as you would a straight.

Having said that, the two Rolls blades I've honed don't quite equal my straights. I'm still experimenting with various honing techniques and progessions, but the Rolls blades so far have not responded as well as I would like.

Shaved with one this morning. Alllllmost there!

**dirtychrome** · 11-14-2010, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by Qatsats

The photos I've found online focus on showing the condition of the pieces but not the process. I'd like to find a series of photos or a video showing the honing/stropping process. It would be fun to see someone actually doing a shave with the equipment. Can I convince one of you owners to do that for the rest of us?

Here's a YouTube post someone else did how the assembly works
YouTube - What is a Rolls razor?

**Nightblade** · 11-15-2010, 11:29 AM

Call me dumb I guess.....but that seems like that should have stayed the next logical step.It's a straight with the maneuverability of a cartridge and yet is self sustaining. No throw away blades to buy. History baffles me sometimes..sigh.....

**MickR** · 11-15-2010, 12:23 PM

Nah, I gotta say I disagree with you there NightBlade. That bloke took twice as long to shave with that, than I take with a cutthroat. And it looked like he didn't need to shave anyway...

**Nightblade** · 11-15-2010, 12:39 PM

Don't get me wrong....I love my straight.But damn that king Gillette.He knew that was the next step and trashed it with disposable blades.I don't know that as a fact,but I can just feel it.

**Nightblade** · 11-15-2010, 12:40 PM

I hear ya though Mick...I do brother.

**MickR** · 11-15-2010, 09:51 PM

I love my straights too and I nearly love my DE just as much. I would like to own a Rolls as well, just can't justify another razor.

Mick

**OGlenn** · 11-16-2010, 08:39 AM

I have several rolls razors and I use them in rotation with my straight razors. Considering the price you can get them for, I think they are a great addition to the arsenal. Look for a complete set that includes the razor handle and an unbroken hone. Incomplete sets can be used for parts down the road if something fails, but they are well engineered, so that isn't likely.

**lordjohn** · 11-16-2010, 08:58 PM

On another forum I found a sharpening method described which involved rubbing the detached blade in circles, one side then the other, on something like 1200 grit paper. I gave this a go the other day and things seemed to improve with my own blade after I later tried it. The guidance was that one had to persevere according to results and mine may need more work.

I also observe they are very common in the UK and often priced at less than a fiver; there is one set down the road at my local antique shop and any antique fair usually sees a couple of boxes emerging into the light of day.

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