Thread: Clueless

Hey guys,
I was out rummaging through local antique stores today, first time looking for shaving goodies and I ran across probably a dozen or more safety razors, several at one shop were labeled as Gillettes, and had an adjustable collar. I don't know a thing about safety razors, but these were all pretty cheaply priced.

A quick search online suggests that these razors were properly labeled (they were labeled by the proprietor's mother many years ago), but I have no way of evaluating the condition and functional capability of these razors. At the price they'd be worth trying one just for kicks, which is what got me thinking...

I also got a straight from this shop and a strop (pics/thread to come in the appropriate forums), but maybe I could play around with a DE. Maybe the wife would be interested in trying out a DE? She's never happy with her razors but is too intimidated by the straights. BUT, that means I want to know what the heck it is I'm looking at, what to watch for, what I should expect, and for my own personal edification: how to identify these DE razors. There's no Wiki for DE's...at least that I can see. Is there a site somewhere that would allow you to compare DE Safety razors and get a proper education?

As if I don't have enough hobbies already.

Hmmm, you're asking a loaded question, BigJim. First you'd want to check a DE over for rust and other surface blemishes. Second, try out the action, whether it's a twist-to-open (or TTO, you'll see that a lot) or a 2 - 3 piece screw top. If it seems smooth, straight and secure you likely have a decent razor. But you'll never know for sure until you load a blade in it and shave.

Some of the other forums, like Badger & Blade, are geared more towards safety razors and may have more of the info you're looking for. B&B even has a DE database, similar to the straight razor database we have here at SRP.

I hope this helps.

I'll have to go over there and look. I signed up for B&B once upon a time, but SRP had all the info and the community I was looking for regarding straights.

These had no rust on them, though plenty of dust. All the razor stuff this lady had was in a shoe box under a cabinet. If I hadn't mentioned to her that I was looking for razor/shaving stuff I would have never found it. That said, apparently under that cabinet is a good dry location. No idea if they were TTO or STO. I might go back sometime and pick them up...they're pretty well priced.

I'd be willing to turn anybody else on to them if there was anybody near by, but so far as I know there are no SRP members within 3hours of me.