razors

Does anyone have any info on the old razors that are called straight razors? Don't know if I spelled it right, but you know what I mean.
My husband has his great uncles or either it is his great grand fathers and I would like to know where to get the sharping belt, so he or I could use it.
Can you use a used belt that you wear around your pants?
Yellowwolf

 

OH you are in for an info treat, as soon as the Cut Throat Club get here.

 

Hi Yellowwolf, you may want to read and or post your question in the straight razor section.

You can buy very good strops at reasonable prices from Tony Miller at thewellshavedgentleman.com. I think he is a member here as well. Your husband's razor will probably need to be honed also. Again there is information on this in the straight razor section here or you can also check out the straightrazorplace.com. Best of luck! I wish I had an heirloom razor to shave with!

Jordan

 

Welcome to The Shave Den.

What kind/size is the razor? Any clue what shape it is in? (e.g., any nicks in the edge, scales [handles] are okay, etc.)

A strop is what is used to put a final "touch" on the edge before shaving, but doesn't really sharpen, only straightens out the micro teeth on the edge prior to shaving. If the razor is that old, it will probably need honing, or at least touching up, like Jordan says. That requires a stone or stones, like a Norton waterstone or coticule or Japanese waterstone.

The good news is, you're in the right place. Go here, as Jordan suggested, for a strop. Tony is great to deal with, has quality stuff, and a nice selection from starter to premium.

There are plenty of places to send the razor for honing. Lynn Abrams is the administrator of Straight Razor Place, another shaving forum, and offers honing through Classic Shaving. Bill Ellis or Joe Chandler, members here, restore razors and hone also. Send them a PM (private message) through this forum. Other members at SRP also hone for small fees plus shipping.

 

I would really suggest going with Tony Miller as previously posted. Hand Made strops that are top notch. You cant go wrong and his customer service...well let me just say i wish i had 4 hands so i could give him 4 thumbs up.

 

Thanks to all of you

I really don't know what shape it is in. I thought it was my husbands great grandfathers or great uncles, but he said it was his grandfathers.
I have to do a lot of unpacking to find it. We just moved 3 months ago.
When I do find it I will put a picture of it on here so you can see it.
I sharpen knives with a wet stone and oil stone, I don't really think that is what I should use to sharpen it with!

 

Post a photo when you can. I think your abilities to sharpen knifes may translate to a certain extent to hone a straight razor. I would suggest sending the razor to a honemiester. Joe Chandler is my preferred honemeister, he goes by JoeC here in this forum. You can always send him a PM(private message) to arrange the details. Welcome to The Shave Den.

Raf

 

sending the razor elsewhere????

I don't think my husband would agree to that. Because of it being a piece of his grandfathers.
I had 2 of them but I think my sister made them grow feet,(if you know what I mean?)
Yellowwolf

 

No worries as far as the folks doing honing. Lynn, Joe C., Bill Ellis, any of those folks are top notch and have done probably hundreds of straights, including some very expensive ones. We all joke about the post office, but I've gotten straights from England, Germany, and many of the states, and gotten them all with no trouble.

If you just don't want to send it out, though, you will need a waterstone, not oil or a whetstone (too rough a grit). Bill and Lynn A. recommend a Norton 4K/8K combo stone. You'll also need an antique store or Ebay junker to practice with.

Also check out the post at the top of the straight razor section here ("Advice for straight razor users...") with the link to Dr. Chris Moss's .pdf file on straights. Honing is in Chapter 3, I think.

 

I would have to agree with the above posts. A strop just basically maintains a keen edge. You would need to hone it to get it to shaving condition. Tony says that he use to primarily get a razor shave ready with pasted strops. So, if your uncomfortable with sending your razor, you could always get a 4 sided strop from him that is pasted accordingly.

 

stright razor

Thank you all,
I understand that who ever is trust worthy, but he just doesn't like to send anything like that in the mail. You know how things get lost in the mail.
Yellowwolf

 

No sweat. Don't want to take any chances with an heirloom.

And honing isn't some mystical rite or rocket science. If you have sharpened knives and such, it only takes some adjustments in technique. Just make sure you have the right tools and read up on it before you go to town.

 

I would recommend two things

www.Straightrazorplace.com That is a wealth of information or
www.classicshaving.com Buy Lynn Abrams DVD on straight Razors/shaving....it has EVERYTHING you need.

 

I'll second the Lynn Abrams DVD. But also check this very basic primer out. And there really is good info in Dr. Moss's Art of the Straight Razor Shave.

 

Thank you to everyone. I will look at the URL's that you gave me.
Yellowwolf

 

This web page may be of assistance with manufacture dates and give you a bit of info about the razor ,welcome aboard
Kind regards Peter
http://www.uniclectica.com/misc/manuf.html
PSmake sure you buy a good strop not a cheep one from zeep whatever or similar because if you use the shiny side of a flat wide leather belt it will work just as good or better