Thread: New Member - First Post & First Razor

Hello all. I am glad to have found this forum.

I have been a fan of antique razors since I was a child (all of my uncles, father, & grandfather had them). I have now made my first pruchase at a local flea market. I only spent $5 so no matter what I am happy with my purchase.

I am having some trouble learning more about this razor - I was hoping some resident experts could drop some knowledge on me. Also I am very much looking for the best information and techniques to restore and clean my finds (seller has a dozen more for $5 each, I am planning on picking them up Saturday).

Here are some pictures - I think the scales may be a plastic, but I am unsure. Stamp on handle says BEST SILVER STEEL SOLIGEN - GERMANY

The details of the man is a Blacksmith swinging down on an anvil




Darkened the image so that the print can be seen better




Backside of the razor

Just about any Solingen-made vintage razor is a good one. There's rust on the edge of this one, and it'll have to be ground away. There's not much hone wear on the spine, which is good. You'll want to remove any loose rust from the rest of the blade.

Start reading the Wiki's on this site, about restoration and honing. Welcome to the club.

Charles

I'm no expert but in my experience, fine-grit sandpaper and fine steel-wool will strip off the rust pretty darn good. If it's not that deep, then that's all you should need to do. Once you're down to metal again, just keep the razor dry between uses to stop it rusting up again.

It looks to be in pretty good shape, as stated above there isn't much hone wear and the edge seems nice and flat. The only thing that would concern me is the rust on the edge. If there is pitting into the edge under the rust then you might have a problem. I would suggest you read the hand sanding article in the wiki and watch the restoration video series they have up as well.

Finally, you should probably move this thread into the workshop part of the forum.

Thank you for your replies. I will be making a post in the Workshop area as soon as I begin the restoration process. I just want to know more about it before I make the mistake of not doing the job correctly. I really dont want to damage (or further damage) the etching.

Are there any good sites for figuring out what company, age, or any other general information about this razor?

I moved this thread from the Razor Forum to the Workshop forum.

The rust at the edge scares me. You wont know what you have until you remove the rust and try to set a bevel I suppose.

I am not intending to use this blade anytime soon. I just want to clean it up nice. I really do worry that I will destroy the etching.

I still dont know anything about this razor. I have yet to figure out the maker or approx. age. I cant seem to find any information about the etching, or the BEST SILVER stamp...which I assume is a common stamp.

If that "Solingen" is put on the blade with a gold wash (rather that etched _into_ the blade), it's going to come off as soon as you touch it with sandpaper. [I haven't worked on gold-washed razors, but that's what everyone else says.]

If it's actually etched into the blade, you should be able to use fine sandpaper _around_ it to get rid of most of the rust, and metal polish for the rust spot(s) actually within the etched area.

Charles

UPDATE - So I have been working patiently on this balde and I am done with it. I dont mean completed...Just DONE.

I cannot get the black oxidation off without removing the etching, so I am stopping. The scales cleaned up nice and quickly, I still need to get new pins. I am considering consulting one of the resident experts and paying to finish this by more experienced hands.

This has been a learning experience and I am not giving up. I have a few more razors that I picked up, and I am going to keep trying.

From top to bottom: Taylor Eye Witness Plunkett Liverpool WEDGE -- Wade & Butcher (has a big chip and two cracks - SAD) -- H. Sabish English Steel Special Sheffield -- T.T.C Diamond Stamp Damascus Steel Etching (etching is almost gone completely, stamp is shallow also).


First up - T.T.C. this is a nice blade: Half Hollow 5/8 - my favorite only because the Wade and Butcher is ruined.