Thread: W & B India Steel?

Noticed this on a ebay blade I am watching. Is it normal or is this a lower grade W & B?

Thanks,

Mike

This one read: blahblahblah / Fine Indian Steel Razor (or something like that).

It was barely legible, so I just sanded over it.


Christopher

Originally Posted by CJBianco

This one read: blahblahblah / Fine Indian Steel Razor (or something like that).

It was barely legible, so I just sanded over it.


Christopher

Will you just hurry up and hone that thing already?

I am currently working on a W&B "celebrated fine India steel set ready for use". Steel seem nice and hard (i.e.- quite resistant to the ol' sandpaper), so it seems to be of "fine" quality indeed.

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Will you just hurry up and hone that thing already?

LOL To be honest, I'll probably never get around to it. I have a nice Hawcroft & Pearson chopper-style wedge already. And I don't need two wedge razors. (Is that blasphemous?) I just wanted to practice sanding. That's why I bought it. I'll probably toss it in a drawer...or make a cool keychain out of it. Who knows?

I am currently working on a W&B "celebrated fine India steel set ready for use". Steel seem nice and hard (i.e.- quite resistant to the ol' sandpaper), so it seems to be of "fine" quality indeed.

I hand-sanded four razors so far, and the two oldest (Sheffields) seemed more difficult. The W&B above was the most difficult and took a long while. So maybe it is good steel.

Me

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Will you just hurry up and hone that thing already?

Hone it I thought he was sending it to me?

So it sounds like it is not unusual for a W & B to be marked India Steel.

Mike

The fine india steel that I have, is a fantistic shaver, but very difficult to hone. It is part of my collection and that says a lot, when you know how many different razors I restored until now.

The "India Steel" inscription means that I can rely on the quality of the blade. At least that has been my experience and I have not heard one bad word about those blades.


Just my two cents,

Originally Posted by CJBianco

And I don't need two wedge razors. (Is that blasphemous?)

Of course it's blasphemous... it is bordering on outrageous

Please... never make such an admission again

Greg Frazer

Well I should find out how good a India Steel W & B can be soon. I picked up CJBianco's sanded blade in BST. Now if I can set a bevel on the thing I'll be in business.

Mike

India steel is good in general I believe. It wasn't only used on W&B razors but many others as well. It is my understanding that a lot of steel used to be produced in India (good steel) as well as the other good steel producing countries (Sweden, England, Germany, etc.). So yeah, India steel isn't unheard of. I have a Joseph Elliott that was engraved very intricately on the blade "Fine India Steel". I think I have other razors with this too...