Here I am, playing seriously against type: near-mint 7/8 Bismarck

This might be a little more of a Show, Tell & ask... But well, first the telling.

It's been kind of all work and no play for me lately. The great majority of the stuff I've gotten I've gotten to resell (I know some of you saw this coming, surely). This one fell into that category too.

Until I had it in my hands.

http://theshiveringbeggar.com/wp-con...be8b58bf91.jpg

Yes, the box label says it's 7/8. By measurement, that means something more like 15/16ths, since traditional measurement counted only the distance between the two points that touch the stone.

It wasn't in perfect condition. It'd been put away with a bit of soap or something near the point, and there's some minor pitting there. By and large though, this thing's kinda glorious.

http://theshiveringbeggar.com/wp-con...dcd38064d8.jpg

I took these pictures with my phone and it got the color balance a little off. The scales are more orange than red. There's a tiny bit of rust in the pivot and a mark on the tail, just outside the scales. Even the box is in good condition.

Unfortunately, the directions got used to see how sharp it was, as there's a cut in the paper.

For fun, here's a scan of the paper that was in the box:

http://theshiveringbeggar.com/wp-con...ructions01.jpg
http://theshiveringbeggar.com/wp-con...ructions02.jpg

Now the question!

Does anyone know when these were made?

My gut feeling is 1930's, more or less, but these new-fangled 'hollow ground' things are outside my usual interests!

That's a Beaut Zak! Keeper for sure as I hear they are great shavers...The Bismarck razor company was in business from 1900 to 1930 according to Goin's Encyclopedia of Cutlery, then came under the Dovo brand. Classic!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wolfpack34

That's a Beaut Zak! Keeper for sure as I hear they are great shavers...The Bismarck razor company was in business from 1900 to 1930 according to Goin's Encyclopedia of Cutlery, then came under the Dovo brand. Classic!

---

Yeah, I don't THINK this one dates to the Dovo years... And it feels a bit modern to be much before 1930, especially with those crisp, shallow etches.

I haven't shaved with it yet, but it feels real nice in-hand. Not quite as real nice as that Fili you loaned me, but not far off!

And in my cursory searching, I couldn't find any other model 604s.

That's a gorgeous razor!

I don't normally go in for this 'less than a hundred years old' stuff, but I kinda like this one!

Welcome to the 20th century [emoji2]

I don't believe it :<0) Next your going to be telling me you've been eying my Ducks. That is a really nice, not so olde, but goody though. It's too bad they didn't follow the instructions but never the less it's in great shape.

Zak, it's junk.

What's worse is that it's NEW junk. Get rid of it quick. :p

It hasn't got enough steel in it to make a tang of a REAL razor, and the scales ARE PLASTIC!

In addition to all the above, IT'S GORGEOUS (new fangled junk)!

Thanks Wullie. Makes all my pill cutters safe from him :<0b......

That's gorgeous Zak!!!!!!

"Kinda glorious" sums it up.
With your permission I'd like to add the shaving instructions here:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...ng-basics.html

Your a tease. That is a beautiful razor. I love it.

That piece almost deserves it own display case. What a great looking blade.

Very nice! I wonder where everyone finds these awesome blades?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by onimaru55

"Kinda glorious" sums it up.
With your permission I'd like to add the shaving instructions here:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...ng-basics.html

---

By all means! Please do.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Steel

Very nice! I wonder where everyone finds these awesome blades?

---

Lately, a lot of the cooler stuff I've gotten has been because ScienceGuy sends me a link.

This was one of those. It was on Ebay with a Buy It Now button. I bought it right then.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Steel

Very nice! I wonder where everyone finds these awesome blades?

---

I wonder that too at times because someone will pop up with something that was on eBay & I wonder how I missed it because I do a lot of searching on there. I found ultrasoundguy2003 his sixth Damascus razor to add to his five day set so now I'm looking for number seven so he can have a seven day set!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Voidmonster

Lately, a lot of the cooler stuff I've gotten has been because ScienceGuy sends me a link.

This was one of those. It was on Ebay with a Buy It Now button. I bought it right then.

---

I'm on there a lot & if I can't afford it, I'll send you the link. There was a newbie that bought some things for bin & there was a Joseph Elliot FBU in there over an inch wide & he jumped on it. I don't know how I missed that one but I miss a few things sometimes.:banghead:

Thats a very nice looking blade. i have no idea what year thay where made. i have a similar one also 7/8 but made for barbers use that i pick up in japan.

Attachment 186620

That's very nice MrMagnus!!!!
How's the fishing coming along in that nice boat of yours?

I think that's the one my kids left for Father Christmas about 20 years ago, those scales would look better in the light here in the UK, so when you're ready leave it out on the night of the 24th with a note asking him to bring it back, I'll clean the chimney ready!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Voidmonster

Lately, a lot of the cooler stuff I've gotten has been because ScienceGuy sends me a link.

---

This is true. I've become Zak's greatest enabler.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MrMagnus

Thats a very nice looking blade. i have no idea what year thay where made. i have a similar one also 7/8 but made for barbers use that i pick up in japan.

Attachment 186620

---

Ah yes! Pictures of yours was the only other 7/8 I could find. There was one that the owner described as 7/8, but it wasn't what the manufacturer would've described that way.

That one's astounding! How's it shave?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Anthony1954

I think that's the one my kids left for Father Christmas about 20 years ago, those scales would look better in the light here in the UK, so when you're ready leave it out on the night of the 24th with a note asking him to bring it back, I'll clean the chimney ready!!

---

Ahh. I see! I'll get right on that. :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ScienceGuy

This is true. I've become Zak's greatest enabler.

---

You wouldn't believe how much of this is his fault:

Attachment 186678

Nice find Zak, know its not really your thing but the fact is that these razor are incredible shavers and so easy to hone, Enjoy!

That is a very fine score ! Love it. Big beautiful razor. On the negative side, I don't own it. :cry:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Martin103

Nice find Zak, know its not really your thing but the fact is that these razor are incredible shavers and so easy to hone, Enjoy!

---

TOO easy to hone. LOL

NO challenge at all. Where's the fun in just sliding a piece of steel up and down a hone without having to go through all kinds of gyrations such as lifting the blade or sliding it off the side of the hone in one direction and rolling it the other?

Pffffft!!

:)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wullie

TOO easy to hone. LOL

NO challenge at all. Where's the fun in just sliding a piece of steel up and down a hone without having to go through all kinds of gyrations such as lifting the blade or sliding it off the side of the hone in one direction and rolling it the other?

Pffffft!!

:)

---

Lets just say its a good razor to hone when you get really frustrated with the ones your talking about.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Voidmonster

Ah yes! Pictures of yours was the only other 7/8 I could find. There was one that the owner described as 7/8, but it wasn't what the manufacturer would've described that way.

That one's astounding! How's it shave?

---

Mine shaves just great, i just took off a two weeks old beard like butter :)
My Spanish friend has a 15/16.. can be seen here.. http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...n-15-16-a.html

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MrMagnus

Mine shaves just great, i just took off a two weeks old beard like butter :)
My Spanish friend has a 15/16.. can be seen here.. http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...n-15-16-a.html

---

Ah! Wow! That ones very close to the one I got! The only real difference is the lack of a number on the tang and the round point!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wullie

TOO easy to hone. LOL

NO challenge at all. Where's the fun in just sliding a piece of steel up and down a hone without having to go through all kinds of gyrations such as lifting the blade or sliding it off the side of the hone in one direction and rolling it the other?

Pffffft!!

:)

---

This razor is easy to hone!

(Ominous music queue over faintly whistling wind.)

Too easy.

--

To make up for my terrible crime, here's the razor I got as a follow up.

Attachment 187067

Attachment 187068

Attachment 187069

I think my restoration options re going to be limited, but it's not like this razors with this grind come along every day. I've never had one in my hand before, and previously the best pictures is ever seen were the engravings in the 1811 Smith's Key.

That is a weird razor, I'm not sure it was fabricated by homo sapiens. How is the blade attached to the spine or is it one piece....?
Voidmonster....your store has been down for some time on the Shivering Beggar.......but you probably knew that.

THAT'S what I'm talking about!! :)

Old fashioned steel, a MANLY whisker removal device. WAY COOL!!

That's like a Colt Single Action compared to a one of the new high speed/low drag, plastic pistolas that are so much in vogue.

Carry on.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by engine46

That's very nice MrMagnus!!!!
How's the fishing coming along in that nice boat of yours?

---

About 400+ perch. 20ish pikes 20ish zanders. Just took up the boat for the winter. The real fishing starts when the ice is gone again.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MrMagnus

About 400+ perch. 20ish pikes 20ish zanders. Just took up the boat for the winter. The real fishing starts when the ice is gone again.

---

Great job my friend!!!!!!!!!!

I won a Torrey razor on eBay that is unique that is similar. It has that groove just below the spine. I'll be showing it when I get it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Voidmonster

This razor is easy to hone!

(Ominous music queue over faintly whistling wind.)

Too easy.

--

To make up for my terrible crime, here's the razor I got as a follow up.

Attachment 187067

Attachment 187068

Attachment 187069

I think my restoration options re going to be limited, but it's not like this razors with this grind come along every day. I've never had one in my hand before, and previously the best pictures is ever seen were the engravings in the 1811 Smith's Key.

---

Sweet! :tuFunny about some of these old things. Look at the-edge to-spine. Where the hone contacts the spine.
Razors like this seem to be a 5/8 wedge with a PILE of weight behind it. Am I wrong? :shrug:
Not that that's a bad thing! ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Sweet! :tuFunny about some of these old things. Look at the-edge to-spine. Where the hone contacts the spine.
Razors like this seem to be a 5/8 wedge with a PILE of weight behind it. Am I wrong? :shrug:
Not that that's a bad thing! ;)

---

You're right on the money!

This one is by far the most extreme example I've seen. I have a John Barber that's relatively close, but even that one doesn't have as much metal on its back as this one.

A single piece of electrical tape centered on the spine isn't wide enough to touch the part of the spine that rests on the hone.

Some of the pitting is REALLY deep, too, but I think most of it will clean up okay. I already fixed the scales.

I've got no idea what the thinking was on these monster-spine razors, but I like how they shave!