Thread: Grandfather's... worth saving?

Hi guys, I'm new here. I have lurked for a while but finally joined up and would like some input if you can spare the time.

My grandad was in Germany during and after WW2 and has this razor he picked up there. Somewhere along the way one of my uncles or dad decided to cut something with the thing and pretty much ruined it. (things work like that when you have three boys running around I hear...)

It says "HERM. KONEJUNG" on the tang and has pretty nice scales. It seems fairly tight in there but there is a chip in the blade and some discoloration. Here are some pics.

Can you guys share some opinions of this razor, what it is, how good/bad it is, and whether it's salvageable or worth it?





Thanks guys!

I would save the nice scales and get a good blade for it as the blade is toast IMO.

Welcome to SRP. You are very fortunate to have your grandfather's razor. There are hundreds of guys on this forum that would love to have an heirloom razor, if just for the sentimental value. Your razor is in pretty rough shape having a major chip and what looks to be some serious rust along the bevel. If you did decide to restore it you will probably loose about an eighth-inch in order to eliminate that chip. The good news is that the rust issue would also be taken care of. If you are interested in shaving with your grandfather's razor, I would say have it restored. If you are holding on to it as a keepsake, then I would use some high grit sandpaper to eliminate further rusting, shine it up with some metal polish and store it somewhere dry. Good luck.

Regards - Walt

I would shorten the blade a bit, besides the chip the rest of the razor looks just fine.

Have it restored as a shorty. I have my uncle's, and I wouldn't give it up for anything.

Have it restored. Hone out the chip by giving the razor a bit of a smile. I'm one of those guys that wished they had a heirloom razor to pass down to my children.

Leave it alone,oil the blade,put it away,doing mods on it will destroy it's history,let dead dawgs lay.

I agree with Pixel....just leave it alone. The blade is toast. Sure, it could me modified to shave again, but it would lose something in the process.

i think that with the right touch it would make a great shaver. i use my great grandfathers razor . i guess to me if its oiled and put up its forgoten once again. give it some new life and put that sucker to use. using a razor to shave dont hurt it and we both know that your grandfather did not use it in that shape. but its yours and only you can decide.

Originally Posted by no7fish

Hi guys, I'm new here. I have lurked for a while but finally joined up and would like some input if you can spare the time.

My grandad was in Germany during and after WW2 and has this razor he picked up there. Somewhere along the way one of my uncles or dad decided to cut something with the thing and pretty much ruined it. (things work like that when you have three boys running around I hear...)

It says "HERM. KONEJUNG" on the tang and has pretty nice scales. It seems fairly tight in there but there is a chip in the blade and some discoloration. Here are some pics.

Can you guys share some opinions of this razor, what it is, how good/bad it is, and whether it's salvageable or worth it?

....snip picts out of the way....

Thanks guys!

It is a bit abused to do a serious restore.
I would lightly sand the rust with 2000 grit 3M wet dry paper from the local hardware
store. Next I would oil it... and mount it in a frame with the family story about your
granddad perhaps a photo in the box with it.

Then if you are so inclined read the beginner WiKi and then watch the classified
to pick up a razor that looks close (could be about $60...) so you can
try your hand at open blade shaving. At least you will know what folks in his day
put up with and what Grandma put up with on the scratchy days.

Some visitors here will note that open blade shaving is hard as heck...
but will discover in the process that a brush and a couple pucks of good shave
soap or shave cream will improve their shave with any non-electric razor.
A $15 boar brush like the Omega 10098 Professional Boar shaving Brush
works wonders. If the local CVS/equivalent has the van der hagen premium shave set
(brush, soap, lathering bowl) in stock grab it as it is a bargain. Good latherin is
key....