Thread: C. W. Dahlgren in ebony

After a recent restoration of an old Swedish frameback, I discovered that I'm very fond of them as shavers. So I grabbed another off eBay recently. I've done only very minimal clean up on this (just got a bit of active rust off, really), and honed it up.



It's really appealing to me and it feels great in hand. I haven't shaved with it yet but I will very shortly. Preliminary testing suggests it's gonna shave great.

The other Swede I've got is in ivory scales, and I was kind of sad that this one was just black horn. After cleaning it up a bit, I became less and less certain that it was horn though. A quick look through the loupe and I confirmed. It's ebony, not horn. So now I've got the proverbial ebony and ivory pair of Swedish razors.

I need to get cracking on teaching myself enough joinery to make nice little presentation boxes for these things. I now have 3 pairs of razors that deserve their own boxes.



(Looks like ebony to me! Rubbing it with my thumb until it's warm just makes it smell like Maas at the moment, so *that* test is right out, but really, after that picture, do I need to test anything?)

Wow - that's a good looking razor. Nice score.

Sweet, VM.

For whatever reason, I've become quite impressed w/ the Swedish steel - thanks to the honorable Mikael. They're less common, so I haven't handled as many as the others, but I've yet to see one with any defect yet. It has taken some time to get used to honing them, but like trying to smoke concrete - it may take you 3 hrs to get it lit, but once you do, you're flying. (apologies to Cheech and Chong).

Although Helje may enjoy the status, I've not found any reason they should. Each of the Swedes I've tried have been outstanding. Engstrom, Hellberge, Dahlgren. Each has been really satisfying. 'Hope you enjoy that lovely blade. BTW, my Dahlgren - which also looks fairly old - is clad in ebony also. I really like it.

Originally Posted by pinklather

Sweet, VM.

For whatever reason, I've become quite impressed w/ the Swedish steel - thanks to the honorable Mikael. They're less common, so I haven't handled as many as the others, but I've yet to see one with any defect yet. It has taken some time to get used to honing them, but like trying to smoke concrete - it may take you 3 hrs to get it lit, but once you do, you're flying. (apologies to Cheech and Chong).

Although Helje may enjoy the status, I've not found any reason they should. Each of the Swedes I've tried have been outstanding. Engstrom, Hellberge, Dahlgren. Each has been really satisfying. 'Hope you enjoy that lovely blade. BTW, my Dahlgren - which also looks fairly old - is clad in ebony also. I really like it.

I shaved with it after posting, and while I am pretty certain I can get a better edge on it, it still gave me a superb shave. It was comparatively easy to hone too. Of course, the blades I've been honing lately are all serious problem blades, so my easy isn't well calibrated at the moment.

That's a fine lookin' razor, Zac!!

Sure looks like the ebony on several of my old pocket knives. I think you nailed it.

I've often wondered if there is any relation of C.W Dahlgren to John A. Dahlgren.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_A._Dahlgren

One made razors, the other invented an awesome artillery system during "The War of Northern Aggression".

Ebony and Ivory are sort of like peanut butter and Jelly,they belong together

Awesome razor has a very neat look to it. I still do not have a frameback!

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Ebony and Ivory are sort of like peanut butter and Jelly,they belong together

I've currently got my ivory Engstrom out on loan, when I get it back I'll have to take a proper portrait of the two of them. I'm probably going to give the Dahlgren a proper cleaning so they'll both be all shiny.

Originally Posted by Wullie

That's a fine lookin' razor, Zac!!

Sure looks like the ebony on several of my old pocket knives. I think you nailed it.

I've often wondered if there is any relation of C.W Dahlgren to John A. Dahlgren.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_A._Dahlgren

One made razors, the other invented an awesome artillery system during "The War of Northern Aggression".

Oh yeah! I knew the name was familiar. I've read about the artillery before. Now you've got me wondering too. Yay! More stuff to research! It surely doesn't seem out of the question that they're related.

Originally Posted by M1ke

Awesome razor has a very neat look to it. I still do not have a frameback!

I've only got three, and even the French one with the frowning edge shaves good, so I wholeheartedly recommend them.

I've now shaved with the Dahlgren twice. The first shave was excellent, the second world-class.

Consider me squarely in the pro-Svenskastål camp!