I know there is a thread for many types of razors, but I don't recall one for Swedish Made Razors. Show them if you've got them. I would like to start with one that just arrived. I've already shined it up some, so I wouldn't scare any of you. Joh. Engstrom. Eskilstuna. Sweden It's both a Stub Tail and a Frameback Razor. The entire blade is very thin, from the tip of the blade, to the tail, it's all the same thickness. Anyone know much about this razor? Age that is?
Johan Engstrom opened his factory in 1874. I think i have one with his trademark of an Arrow with the 1-8-7-4 situated around the shaft. I think he died in 1915 with the factory closing in 1917. I have an Engstrom frameback but the brass is not completely solid like this one and easily slides off the blade. I think he did turn to hollow grinding at some point, so maybe guessing 1880's or 1890's.
Could you find some brass tubing, of the appropriate width, then use a dremel, and split it? Since these things are just pressure fitted on the blade. It might add a better angle, for honing.
That should work. This thing actually has a pretty decent edge, but it is fragile and I don’t really enjoy stropping it. I pull it out only once or twice a year. I’m looking forward to seeing some of the group’s Swedes. I find their lines gorgeous! I need to take some pics myself... Tom
We have to have a Heljestrand on page 1, right Scott??? I very much love this shape. Heljestrand MK32 And the backside. This one almost taps out at 13/16” Tom
Cool. I have a Meisterstuch 146 myself. I was trying to figure out a way to incorporate it into my razor pictures, now I know how.
The MK series of Heljestrands is interesting to me. Can’t say I understand the rationale behind what number goes to what size , but I have enjoyed all the ones I have used. Here is the MK6: Another Helje with that beautiful swooping thumb notch. Similar but not identical to the MK32: Both coming in around 13/16, which I believe is on the larger side of the range for these models. The MK32 is considered to be a full hollow while the MK6 is described as half hollow... I’m no good at determining that, so here is your visual comparison: 6 on left and 32 on right. Slightly different shoulder profiles, but heck that is probably true for versions within the same model number also I also have read that the 6 is possibly made with “harder” steel... honestly, I can’t tell the difference because the grind changes the shave. It is a razor that does take a slightly longer time on the hones, but I find that with a lot of Swedish razors. Thanks for letting me ramble and compare two of my favorite Swedish razors. Tom
Next installment... and a lot going on within this one razor CV Heljestrand for the South American mkt. The importer/distributor is E. Montagnac out of Buenos Aires. My understanding is they produced knives and also imported cutlery, including Solingen razors and obviously Heljestrand. Now I have an affinity for 14’s, and the fact this is one really attracted me. IMO this looks very similar in size and shape to the MK133, coming in at a generous 7/8” and similar shoulder profile. Haven’t held a 133 so not sure about the grind, but here is a shot of this one. Another twist, and maybe how the 14 came into play, is the Candidius trademark on the box. I actually think it could be original to this razor as research suggests it was a Solingen brand and I have seen a few 14’s under that brand name. So, we have a little Swedish, with some German flair, sold in an Argentinian market. That my story (for now) and I’m sticking to it. Tom
Yeah there definitely was a learning curve for the first dozen or so shaves. Now that I have it down I find it to be an outstanding little razor.
