Thread: Carl Victor Heljastrand

Aquired a just shy of 3/8 MK#02 seven months ago. Came across another MK, except its a MK#01, from C.v.Heljestrand. Eskilstuna, Sweden.


Carl Victor Heljestrand was a Swedish industrialist who lived and worked in Eskilstuna, Sweden for most of his life. He was born in Eskilstuna on the 30th of January 1816 and died on the 29th of July 1861. He is noted for his work in the company started by his father, Alderman Olof Heljestrand, which produced steel products such as scissors, table forks, knives and straight razors.[1]

CVH seldom are "large" razors, they are usually a bit on the tiny side.
But they are hell of good

Aggelos, Congrats on your purchase.

I've heard the same thing. How are they to hone?

Well, not my purchase this time, but I do have one MK31 and a Hellberg which, when all is said and done, are quite the same razors (same patented swedish steel, same blade shapes, etc)

I find them pretty easy to hone actually, but I am a patient worker with a slow and long honing technique. The steel is sturdy and supple at the same time, I don't know how to express it any other way.


That being said, I've had issues with a MK31 blade (long story), but its behaviour was quite unique, and I suspect the frown it had was a consequence of... Well I don't know, even a very low grit stone did not even start to correct it, like it was dead. But overall, it was a damaged blade, and undocumented behaviour.

Some other members, such as Thaeris out of my head, will tell you as much I gather

3 of the 6 razors I own are Heljestrand. They are amazing shavers and amazing to view as well.

Nice Well this is pretty much the best you can find (I do prefer MOP myself, not caring that much for tortoise)

That being said

amazing to view as well

I... Actually disagree. While MK31 and MK32 (among others but chiefly those) are most of the time gorgeous, I'll give you that, some CVH may look... Plain to some.
But all of them AFAIK are indeed amazing shavers

If we drop briefly into the world of reality, there are a lot of amazing shavers but I've seen few double sets of razors as beautiful as those two cased Heljestrands! Breathtaking almost.......and surely once in the possession of someone of significant wealth.

They are actually from an original 7 day set originally sold in Paris at M.Kindal circa 1910. I acquired them from a good friend of the forum. they are my Holy Grail set. thank you. The period correct case actually housed a pair of MK32's in Ivory which I sold and kept the case for the MK31's in Genuine Tortoise. These will be passed down as a family heirloom someday.

Originally Posted by WW243

If we drop briefly into the world of reality, there are a lot of amazing shavers but I've seen few double sets of razors as beautiful as those two cased Heljestrands! Breathtaking almost.......and surely once in the possession of someone of significant wealth.

One more

Wow, that's a tough one, a family heirloom. I'm sure their value will only increase over time but the true value is in dream state they put you in if you are immersed in this odd little corner of the world of vintage straight razors. Guessing you have begun priming an heir for the next caretaker.......a grim side note, I was at a fleamarket in Honolulu a couple of decades ago when a kid rolled up in a van and must have unloaded a lifetime of someone's collection of Japanese ceramics, small pieces....the one's he had left were extraordinary so I can only imagine what he had when he first opened for sale. They had no real meaning to him.

Originally Posted by AntiqueHoosier

They are actually from an original 7 day set originally sold in Paris at M.Kindal circa 1910. I acquired them from a good friend of the forum. they are my Holy Grail set. thank you. The period correct case actually housed a pair of MK32's in Ivory which I sold and kept the case for the MK31's in Genuine Tortoise. These will be passed down as a family heirloom someday.