New Rolls Hone & Strop & Rolls Razor

Here is a very rare thing to find. A new hone, strop & some strop dressing for Rolls Razor. People are bad about cracking the hones on those razors because of the way you hone them, the blade will flip over really hard if you don't watch what you're doing & crack the thin hone in those razor sets.
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Here's a nice Rolls Razor I got not too long ago.
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This one is in real good shape & comes with an extra blade still in the wrapper also complete with instructions.

nice score

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Originally Posted by admvalentine

nice score

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Thanks. I got lucky & found the hone, strop & dressing. You can get those Rolls Razor's on the bay but you have to make sure they take pics of the hone & strop. I've seen ones that didn't have a pic of the hone, most likely because it was cracked. I've seen them on there with cracks. I have about four of those Roll's Razor's because I got lucky & got 'em cheap.

Nice, I have a few but yet to try them. Have heard they take a good edge.

That's a nice pick. They shave just wonderfully when they're sharp, and like most razors, they shave like crap when they're not. It's good that it came with a new replacement blade, blade condition is everything with a used Rolls, and I have personally had no luck re-honing dull or damaged blades. Have fun with it --- and good luck shaving right underneath your nose.

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Originally Posted by stimpy52

That's a nice pick. They shave just wonderfully when they're sharp, and like most razors, they shave like crap when they're not. It's good that it came with a new replacement blade, blade condition is everything with a used Rolls, and I have personally had no luck re-honing dull or damaged blades. Have fun with it --- and good luck shaving right underneath your nose.

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I have a mustache & a goatee so I use my electric mustache trimmers for that.

I would guess that most of the hones are cracked/busted due to being dropped. I have two in great condition, tried honing one up about 2 years ago,,, the first two strokes were so horrible, I considered shipping it to GITMO to be used as an interrogation device.

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Originally Posted by Hirlau

I would guess that most of the hones are cracked/busted due to being dropped. I have two in great condition, tried honing one up about 2 years ago,,, the first two strokes were so horrible, I considered shipping it to GITMO to be used as an interrogation device.

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They ARE awkward to hone & much simpler to strop. I have honed & stopped one successfully & tried it even though i'm a straight razor person & it shaved great.
You crack me up John..........."interrogation device." It does look like some sort of communications device!
I believe you are right about them being dropped but the first one I got was sticking & when you tried to hone with it, the blade flipped over against the hone so hard, I thought it was going to break it! I cleaned & lubed it & it worked a lot better after that. That's the one I shaved with & believe it or not, it surprised me how well it shaved.

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Originally Posted by Hirlau

I would guess that most of the hones are cracked/busted due to being dropped. I have two in great condition, tried honing one up about 2 years ago,,, the first two strokes were so horrible, I considered shipping it to GITMO to be used as an interrogation device.

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My theory is that the hones get cracked from people trying to put the case back together wrong -- the handle has to be in just right, and I think that the curious and the impatient types tend to try to force the whole thing back together..... snap!

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Originally Posted by stimpy52

My theory is that the hones get cracked from people trying to put the case back together wrong -- the handle has to be in just right, and I think that the curious and the impatient types tend to try to force the whole thing back together..... snap!

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stimpy, you have a point there. In case some people don't know, there is a slot on the inside of one side of the razor case which is where the handle goes. Thank you for the input stimpy. John did make a point & I'm sure there are a few people who have dropped the lid cracking the hone also. There are several ways the hone can get cracked but the Rolls Razor kits were made in England & with quality craftsmanship. They were designed to be an "all in one" kit.

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Originally Posted by stimpy52

My theory is that the hones get cracked from people trying to put the case back together wrong -- the handle has to be in just right, and I think that the curious and the impatient types tend to try to force the whole thing back together..... snap!

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Come to think of it,,, this is right,,,,,,

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Originally Posted by stimpy52

My theory is that the hones get cracked from people trying to put the case back together wrong -- the handle has to be in just right, and I think that the curious and the impatient types tend to try to force the whole thing back together..... snap!

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I think that you are right about the "repacking" of these and cracking the hones.

I have had no trouble honing these and these have been the only blades that I have had that have been scary sharp. My neck looked like a connect the dot drawing the last time I tried. The main cause may have been pressure, angle , or whatever but it was sharp!!!!

Coming across a new hone & strop was a rare find I believe along with the strop dressing, especially since that hone is only about 1/8" thick & it is still intact.

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Originally Posted by 32t

I think that you are right about the "repacking" of these and cracking the hones.

I have had no trouble honing these and these have been the only blades that I have had that have been scary sharp. My neck looked like a connect the dot drawing the last time I tried. The main cause may have been pressure, angle , or whatever but it was sharp!!!!

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Yep, they DO get scary sharp!!!

I put the handle in the track area on the side instead of the stropping lever, no danger of it cracking anything in there.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,one of mine

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[QUOTE=Hirlau;1457505],,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,one of mine

John, That's exactly the way I used to put my handle in until I discovered the groove near the track on one side where it actually goes. That's a good place to put one but like stimpy said, some people can get impatient or the handle might move & then they force the lid on, cracking the hone.

Bought one a while back. Had very little use. Blade appears to be a replacement as it doesn't have date on it.

Shaved with it a couple of times and I agree with Zak about his assessment of a razor on a stick. It shaved smooth, but it's just not right for me.

I did check the blade when it's on the hone side and there is a air gap at what would be classed as the spine of regular razor. I'm wondering if that could contribute to difficulty when honing in the manner of a straight.

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Originally Posted by Wullie

Bought one a while back. Had very little use. Blade appears to be a replacement as it doesn't have date on it.

Shaved with it a couple of times and I agree with Zak about his assessment of a razor on a stick. It shaved smooth, but it's just not right for me.

I did check the blade when it's on the hone side and there is a air gap at what would be classed as the spine of regular razor. I'm wondering if that could contribute to difficulty when honing in the manner of a straight.

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I agree with you Wullie, I'm a straight razor person & shave with one but I have used a Rolls once. It's not right for me either. I was in an antique store one day & wondered what they were all about & ended up with it. I might have four of these but I have several hundred straights! Same goes for the Wilkinson Sword razor with the seven blades in the kit, I have one complete with the strop still wrapped in original paper & it has the white cloth bag but I'll never use it. On most of them, the date on the Rolls is on the back side (flat) of the blade.

Here's a couple of pics with the handle where it was designed to be stored in the unit.

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Originally Posted by Wullie

Bought one a while back. Had very little use. Blade appears to be a replacement as it doesn't have date on it.

Shaved with it a couple of times and I agree with Zak about his assessment of a razor on a stick. It shaved smooth, but it's just not right for me.

I did check the blade when it's on the hone side and there is a air gap at what would be classed as the spine of regular razor. I'm wondering if that could contribute to difficulty when honing in the manner of a straight.

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I separated the blade and sharpened it on my regular stones Norton's etc. I will have to go look at mine but an air gap in the package would make a double bevel....:hmmm:

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Originally Posted by 32t

I separated the blade and sharpened it on my regular stones Norton's etc. I will have to go look at mine but an air gap in the package would make a double bevel....:hmmm:

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I strop on the machine and hone as needed. Often as not I'll remove the guard from the blade and put one lick of tape on the spine and hone circles on the necessary stone; magnificent smooth shaves and excellent in tight spots. No tape no good edge for me.

As above, if you want to snap a hone in a heartbeat, store the handle improperly and snap down the lid.