Barn Find Razors

Walking through a bargin barn I came across 3 straight razors, 3 single edge razors 2 were in cases, and a strop that looked like a pencil sharpener. I picked up 2 of the straights both American made. The third was from china, it was cool and I'll probably go back to see if he has it later. It had to have a 6" blade on it and weigh about a half pound lol.

White scaled razor is a H.M. Christensen. Got a chipped scale and very little surface rust. It will take hair off though. Blade has a small frown to it. Measures 9/16"

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Green scaled razor is a King Razor King Midas. It also only has surface rust on one side of the blade. There is no pitting but I'm a little concerned about scale rot. The surface rust on it looks like it was put away went and will easily be cleaned up. The heal doesn't look like it was honed but it cuts hair off the arm. Measures 5/8"

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They were basically stored in a barn so I think that's why it's got the rust on it. They should clean up nice. I'm thinking new scales for the H.M. though.



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Nice find. Should clean up well. Top razor looks to be smaller at tip than heel. If you can live with the scales fill in the chip with Superglue and baking soda. I have used it on bone scales with success.

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Originally Posted by bouschie

Nice find. Should clean up well. Top razor looks to be smaller at tip than heel. If you can live with the scales fill in the chip with Superglue and baking soda. I have used it on bone scales with success.

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It is a tad bit small at the tip than the heel, but there is no bevel at the heel so it looks worse than it is. The heel on both razors don't look like they have been touched. The bevel is not really there. I think they were owned by the same person. The guy I bought them from said he bought a lot of 10 at an estate auction. They don't look to be bad off being ~100 years old from what I've read.

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If you look close, the bevel tapers off towards the heel.

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Personally, I wouldn't bother with either for shaving; that is a lot of hone wear, at it isn't even on either. They can be good to try out resto techniques on, if that's something that interests you.

you have some work ahead of you getting the frown out of that blade as well. Looks to me that if you take the time to remove the frown you will then be re shaping the heel/stabilizer area. Not saying you can not do it but can be an ambitious project, best of luck with what ever you decide :D Most importantly, enjoy yourself ; )

That's an example of a frown

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Originally Posted by Somdfisher

If you look close, the bevel tapers off towards the heel.

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Don't waste your money on the Chinese razor. It will not take an edge. Some of the pros here have tried.

Yes it has a frown. These will be used mainly for practice. Not too bad of shape to start out with.

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Originally Posted by rolodave

Don't waste your money on the Chinese razor. It will not take an edge. Some of the pros here have tried.

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Oh I wouldn't even try to sharpen it. It has so extreme of a point at the end and just it's size would make a cool display in a case.

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Be careful with the King Midas. That scales pattern is notorious for off gassing and will eventually go to full Cell Rot. It may be already off gassing, that is the fine rust you see now.

It can contaminate any razors stored near it. Clean it with steel wool and put in a zip lock bag for a couple weeks, if it starts to rust again, it’s cell rot, toss it out.

When buying vintage always look at spine wear, buy the best razors you can find. There are lots out there, if you look.

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Originally Posted by Euclid440

Be careful with the King Midas. That scales pattern is notorious for off gassing and will eventually go to full Cell Rot. It may be already off gassing, that is the fine rust you see now.

It can contaminate any razors stored near it. Clean it with steel wool and put in a zip lock bag for a couple weeks, if it starts to rust again, it’s cell rot, toss it out.

When buying vintage always look at spine wear, buy the best razors you can find. There are lots out there, if you look.

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Yeah. I was concerned for cell rot with this razor. The orange rust looks like water, but the black almost smooth does look like rot to me.

I have visited just about all the antique shops around me and came across 2 with anything shave related. One was extra proud of the pitted, rusted, and chipped blades that I left without them. These weren't so bad but I wanted to start out somewhere with learning to restore and hone, and I have 3 razors and a DE I like to shave with that grabbing these would be more for play. Plus, buying both he gave me a good deal on them.

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What barns are you walking through in Southern Maryland? I will have to give up the antique shops and start looking in tobacco barns. LOL

Have you tried the tobacco barns/Flea Market in Hughesville?

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Originally Posted by GarnerPW

What barns are you walking through in Southern Maryland? I will have to give up the antique shops and start looking in tobacco barns. LOL

Have you tried the tobacco barns/Flea Market in Hughesville?

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That's where I found them, at the bargin barn. The only antique shop I found any straights at in Charles and Calvert is the Glory Days one in Newburg. The straights they had were either chipped or too rusted to want to mess with and they wanted too much.

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I picked up my Bismarck at an antique shop in Leonardtown.

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I haven't been to any in St Mary's. I don't work over there anymore. If I still worked for Metrocast, I would have scoured those by now lol.

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