First thread, first Straight Razor acquisition from an antique store. Restore?

[StephenEscallier]

I have been wetshaving for a few years using various safety razors and have always been intrigued by straight razors. I knew one day I would stumble on a few for a good price.

I was at a local antique shop and asked the lady if she had and shaving type stuff, and she immediately got a smile and said "I just got in a bunch of razors for a lady. I spent 19$ on the lot, I also got a couple vintage Gillette safety razors in the bundle.

I decided to sign up here, show the razors and see if any of them are decent and or worth restoring.

#1 Wade & Butcher, Sheffield.

The razor blade appears to be in nice condition, the scales are wood which is in a little rough shape, overall the whole thing might be able to be restored.







#2 Joseph Allen & Sons, Sheffield, Non XLL.

This razor is in really nice shape, the pictures do not do it justice.

[StephenEscallier]

#3 Clauss Fremont OH. The Colonial.

Another really nice conditioned razor.







#4 George Wostenholm, Sheffield. The Celebrated Extra Hollow Ground IXL

Razor is overall a big unpolished, the scales are a bit flimsy feeling.

[StephenEscallier]

#5 Montgomery Ward, Chicago.

This one is in rough shape blade wise chipped tip and rusty, but it looks like it gould be ground down at the chip. I almost passed on it but I thought the scales were lovely and the addition of inlay on the blade is nice. I also forgot to take a straight pic of this one.







Another question since I am a total newbie to straight razors, if restored which of these ones would be best for a new shaver?


Thanks for looking!

Stephen Escallier

[jhenry]

Stephen,

There are other SRO members more knowledgeable than me about razor restoration, but if I were in your shoes I would go with the Wade & Butcher and the Joseph Allen as restore first projects and to shave with. They are both well-known razor brands and great shavers. I have several WBs and 1-2 Joseph Allens in my own razor rotation.

The Geo. Wostenholm is a quality brand too that I shave with.

[deighaingeal]

#1-unpin, neetsfoot on the scales, sand and polish scales. Blade may need nothing more than a little cutting compound and a rag, may need as much as some light hand sanding up to polish.

#2&#3- maybe some maas or comparable then some time on the hones.

#4 looks like you might lose the etching, but it should be sanded out either by hand or greaseless compounds.

#5 looks like the edge might be swiss cheese, may want that one to be looked at by a pro.

They are all good brands. I would start with 2&3 since they need less and of course get at least one honed by a professional razor honer by looking in the classifieds under member services.

Welcome and enjoy.

[StephenEscallier]

Thanks for the feedback. I will have to google all of the things you listed.

My only experience with real shaving is vintage Gillette, Badger brush, ect. So I will have to buy a hone and other stuff to get started on all of this. I have to say I am quite excited and already have my eye on an ebay razor up for auction.