The Silent Razor - Heljestrand MK30

A virtually unused Heljestrand MK30 found me around Christmas, 2013. If you never saw one firsthand it is a very small razor with a narrow blade, a very deep thumb detent and a Superman-quality jimp. It is little. Although I favor a full hollow 6/8 razor I'll sometimes slum around with 5/8 and even 4/8 blades of a more rigid or wedgey persuasion. The MK30 is quite rigid and way down in Dubl Duck Dwarf (or worn-out 5/8) territory.

The MK30 was sent to a pro because that blade and bevel looked too small for any possible novice errors. After gssixgun honed it I had one of those shaves that makes you think someone forgot to put the blade in the razor. It wasn't just crazy-smooth or pull-free, it was darn near silent. Normal shaving feedback sensations were absent.

I just read where @Jaatinen1982 said, "C.V. Heljestrand MK 30 for shave. It was my first time with that razor. ...There wasn't even normal sound of shaving, all sr shavers know what sound I mean..." I guess we both experienced the same thing with the same blade.

You have silent razors?

I bought an ivory scaled nos CVH MK30 for a fair price that I gave to one of my brothers for his birthday a couple summers ago, part of me wishes that I'd kept it for myself but I'm happy with my other Heljes(two of them are MK31 which are pretty much the same razor but larger).

Here it is, the pictures don't do it justice, I'm still working on my photography:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/show-...y-brother.html

Nope. all of mine are big, bellied full hollows,crazy loud:)

I have a couple of old Sheffields that are super quiet

Is the MK30 a wedge? IME a wedge is the only type of razor that is somewhat silent compared to the various hollows, though wedges aren't truly silent in reality either.

It's a full hollow.

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Originally Posted by Baxxer

It's a full hollow.

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+1

I think the silence is due to-

1. The narrow width (4/8 - 9/16) giving less of an amplifying sound board effect,
2. The quality of good Swedish steel that can take a very fine edge, and
3. Glen's undoubted prowess at honing.

Regards,
Neil

I have never shaved with a blade that was honed by Glen so I can't confirm point #3 but I think point #1 & #2 are spot on.

Interesting question. My first thought of obvious reply was 'My wedges are silent', but, thinking about it, my framebacks are silent too. The noisy one is the full hollow 5/8 Burrell Top Flight...

MisterMoo knows what I was talking about :) I honed my MK30 by myself and it hones real nice. It is silent and I like size of it, it is fun to handle :) I am total Heljestrand maniac, it is amazing how good straight razors they could make decades ago without modern technology.

Interesting. I own full hollows from 7/8 down to 4/8 and I would consider none of them to be silent shavers. Gotta say I'm tapped out of theories on this one.... :shrug:

The MK30 is small, even compared to most other 4/8's, a bit shorter too. So maybe it's just the small surface area.

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Originally Posted by Pithor

The MK30 is small, even compared to most other 4/8's, a bit shorter too. So maybe it's just the small surface area.

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Having given it a moments thought it occurs that sound is vibration sufficient to move air within the audible frequency range. The more rigid the blade the greater the resistance to vibrate when smashing through little copper wire hairs.

I hadn't thought about blade size or geometry until your post. One might assume the smaller blade figures in, too - it is remarkably quiet compared to a similarly rigid but larger wedge, for example. Do we not have a music theory- or physics professor in the house? :D

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Originally Posted by RezDog

I have a couple of old Sheffields that are super quiet

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What grind/dimensions, Rez'?

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Originally Posted by RezDog

I have a couple of old Sheffields that are super quiet

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Ditto here. Some big paddled Sheffs quiet and, oh, the glide.