Thread: Wostenholm and Boker Upgrade

Hey fellas,

Last week I was on my way down from Albany, NY and decided to stop in Hudson, a town nearly drowning in antique stores. Of all the stores I checked for razors, none had any out in the display cases. Just as I was leaving the last store, the owner asked what I was looking for. When I told him, he told me to wait, soon returning with a small box with some DE razors (not my thing) a shavette and a leather case with two straights. I gently opened the case, handmade by the looks, and pulled out two mirror shiny razors, both in stunning shape: a Wostenholm "Peerless" and a Boker "King Cutter." Both have beautiful gold detailing and etching. The asking price, however, was steep. I had never paid this much for razors before, having started off with quality cheap vintage razors that were never that pretty, buying low, fixing them up and selling slightly higher to fund my RAD... So I left the store to "consider." In short order, I had "reconsidered," receiving a modest discount om the owner, promising myself to liquidate several of my collection in order to fund this purchase....This week I sold 5 razors on Ebay and today I touched up the edges on these beauties and will shave with them tonight...they came back very nicely.....very excited.

Here are photos


Fiddlehead

Now that's a pair to draw too!

I believe sir that I would have done the same. Unfortunately for me it seems that none of the antique stores in So Cal ever get straight razors.

Nice catch. Thanks for sharing.

Wow to find those in that condition, congrats.

Bob

Thanks guys, I am unsure how old they are. The Wostenholm does indicate "England" so it's likely made after 1894. The Boker just says Solingen, however the leather case has writing on it that is dated 1943 in New Zealand. I have no idea whether the country designation law had any bearing on merchandise exported to New Zealand. Anyone have any idea?

Of course I have no idea whether the razors have have the same history as the case.....

Pretty close to NOS. Very nice find!

I just shaved with them. So very sweet. Started with the wosty going with the grain with a thin base of Cremo shave cream (tried it. Loved it. Stayed with it) . Just gentle stroking. Drew blood on a couple of bumps going against the grain with the Boker - very sharp. And I didn't really give the beard any pretreatment other than 10 or 15 seconds of hot water. Can't wait to see what they're like after a hot shower!

I'm so happy to have a couple of blades that are just beautiful to look at.....and amazing steel.