Old razor. homade strope. newb

Hi guys TURNMASTER here. Call me Jeff. I am a machinist of 20 some odd years and a father of two.

I have had this J.A.Henckels Black Devil in the drawer with a number of pocket knives. Well I use knives all the time and carry a pocket knive every day. I have carried several of the knives in my collection and the rest have been carried by someone at some point in time.

So, it makes sence to me that this razor should be used for its intended purpose. I looked around for a value when it got home. but it seemed it should be used, not collected.

It belonged to my grandad who passed away three years ago and I wonder if it belonged to his father.

Well the reason for posting here instead of Introductions is the homemade strope. For a first leather working project its just OK. the leather seems a bit thick but seems to work ok and I will get my first full shave with it tomorow. I honed the razor also.

Jeff

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Attachment 56849

Nice work, good luck with the first shave.
Grant

I also ended up with two new hones for this new "affliction". King 6K and 8K. Seems there is a resurgence in wet shaving in the area as 3 others have been to the Woodcraft store buying up the stones. I may still need another finer stone or a good paste.

Jeff

Hello and welcome to SRP. Very nice razor you've got there and a good looking little strop. Good luck on your first shave.

Took a little while but it was oddly satisfying. I can not quite define it. Part of it may be a sence of accomplishment.

Jeff

Welcome!
And i got to tell you, thats a real beauty that razor. Im a bit jealous. more than a bit actually..
How did the stropping work out for you?

Welcome to SRP. I must say that is about the best looking Henckels I've seen. Keep that one in the family.

Pretty razor! =)

Me

whats the difference between a 'black devil' and a 'black demon' ?? the logo on the scale appears quite similar.. and what kind of price range would a decent one of either type fall into?

I have no idea on value. Well, I have an idea that mine is worth around 200$ but that is a best estimate on what info I have gathered from books. And as for the Black Demon your guess is as good as mine.

To the others who commented on the razor, thanks it was my grandfather's. My mom remembers him shaving with it when she was 4 or 5, that would have been 1950 or so.

The strope seems to work ok but I want some thing else. It is already time to hone again.

Jeff

Jeff I like your strop design it looks good. What type of leather did you use and where from?

It is a chunk of leather that came from the local saddle shop, along with the Chicago screws. The whole thing must have cost something like 15 bucks with hardware. The guy at Indiana Harness charged me $5 IIRC for the leather, I think the screws were another $5 and the remaining hardware was another $5 or so (?). I cut the leather with a sharp razor knife and a straight edge. I used mink oil to condition the leather.

I have been thinking about making another out of some latigo from Tandy. But, you have to buy a good size and I would have enough to make 3 or 4 or 5. I could probably sell the remaining leather here.

Good luck with yours.
Jeff

First, I congratulate you on your strop resourcefulness. Second, you have a very nice razor there and its sentimental value likely is even greater. My standard warning to beginners is to avoid using such irreplaceable razors until you have had a lot of practice with a less valuable razor. Beginners often make mistakes that end up destroying their first razors and you don't want anything to happen to that one.

Yeah not me,
I honed it and have had no problems at all. I do not shy away from the difficult and in this case it is not a difficult thing. I am a hands on individual and a machinist of 25 years and have sharpened much more difficult to handle and valuable blades. I appreciate your concern but this piece is to be used and I do not want to go buy another 2 or 300 dollar razor.

Jeff