Thread: Challenge Razor Works

Picked up this top of the line 5/8" hollow ground Challenge Razor Works in "bamboo-esque" celluloid with genuine pearl covered tang. Checked an old 1916 hardware catalog and this model was the most costly of the brand at $54.00 per dozen, or $4.50 each. That amounts to approximately $87.00 in 2015 dollars!! Hope it hones up well.

USA Straight Razor Challenge Cutlery Fancy Scales MOP Tang Vintage Nice Shave | eBay

Nice !!....Should hone up and shave a treat.

Had a few. Honed and shaved great.

Thanks, bongo. I'm quite impressed with its condition in the seller's pics! This will be my third Challenge razor, and I am very pleased with the overall quality of the other two.

Really nice! A few things to be wary of. That type of celluloid was famous for breaking down. If the blade looks worked-on as you get it, you may store it with blade open. Personally, I treat those with wet silicone. Seems to rejuvenate and keep them young.

Another thing is it looks like the top collar is sunk into the cell. Tapping on that to tighten will likely break the pearl on the tang.
Might need unpinning and inspecting/repinning with stacked collars to bring it above the cell.

Challenge is a great old American brand!

Sharptonn: Really appreciate your input and advice. As soon as I saw the cell I was a little concerned for signs of rot, but it looks so clean that I figured what the hell. Will check the collar and proceed carefully.

I saw that one. It's different so it should be nice.

Just had my first shave with it this morning and it was very nice and smooth! All that was needed to get it shave ready was 50x on my coticule and a good progressive stropping.