Thread: Rescued vintage straight razors

RESCUED vintage straight razors
The concept here is creative minimalism.
These are razors that have been cleaned up, made shave ready, and perhaps have new scales yet, if possible, have not been "cleaned" to the point of erasing original identification. Razors beyond rescuing would not be included. The razors would have as many original parts as possible and if possible they may still have original etchings. They may not be pretty. Many pits, and other imperfections may be present. If possible the character of the razors would be retained including the "through-the-mill" results of their histories.

Here's one of mine, and old Garland that was $3.50 when new.

First as found:



And then as Glen made it look (ignore the Hoffritz, which I bought new at a mall less than twenty years ago):



I'll have to make more pics, as I lost a bunch on a drive crash. Sadly, the before pics aren't coming back.

All mine are rescues, flea market finds etc. I bought some off eBay in so so condition. I only cleaned then up with some Mothers aluminum cleaner. And the only one I have left that I bought new is my Hoffritz and it's a really great shaver.
Here are mine

3 Wade Butchers, the Hoffritz , a Puma, a Thiers Issard, a Le Grelot. A Robert Amendola ( turns out he lived behind my Dad when my Dad was a kid) and a Frederick Reynolds

Originally Posted by htmitten

RESCUED vintage straight razors...These are razors that have been cleaned up, made shave ready... The razors would have as many original parts as possible and if possible they may still have original etchings. They may not be pretty. Many pits, and other imperfections may be present.

A great general description of my entire collection. With the exception of probably 3 or 4 "high end" antique store finds ($25-30 razors) the rest probably (18-20 razors) have been flea market rescues purchased for $10 or less, cleaned up with steel wool and Never Dull, rubbing compound for the scales. Honed up and fired up.

Originally Posted by Tsunami

All mine are rescues, flea market finds etc. I bought some off eBay in so so condition. I only cleaned then up with some Mothers aluminum cleaner. And the only one I have left that I bought new is my Hoffritz and it's a really great shaver.
Here are mine

3 Wade Butchers, the Hoffritz , a Puma, a Thiers Issard, a Le Grelot. A Robert Amendola ( turns out he lived behind my Dad when my Dad was a kid) and a Frederick Reynolds

I have the identical Hoffritz! I bought it beat up on the bay and was the first repinning job I did. I'm still to hone it and use it, though, but she does look pretty now. Does yours have any of the gold leaf? Mine lost it to Mother's Mag polish when I cleaned it up, although the etching lives on.

With the exception of the Mastro Livi the wife gifted me, all my blades are pound rescues.

Best,


Marcos

PS. I lied. I also got a NOS Collegiate that needed no rescue, although I like to think it needed shelter and I was the right guy in the right place at the right time.

Originally Posted by 1OldGI

A great general description of my entire collection. With the exception of probably 3 or 4 "high end" antique store finds ($25-30 razors) the rest probably (18-20 razors) have been flea market rescues purchased for $10 or less, cleaned up with steel wool and Never Dull, rubbing compound for the scales. Honed up and fired up.

Pretty much the same here. I'm still figuring out the honing of these things. Fortunately, I have several that are donating what's left of their rusted blades to my learning curve. I did buy some 800, 1200, and 2K grit wet or dry sandpaper to help out some of the other ones that I deem worth messing with.

I'll post some before and after pics once I get things lined out.

I just picked up a straight that I found hiding in a junk store. It was in a locked case under two empty guitar cases and an ancient trombone. Surprisingly, there was only one rust pit; the rest was surface rust that fell off when I soaked it in vinegar. It was still in its original box, too!