Antique Razor History Discovered

[Wyatt Burp]

I just did a little research on this razor I've had a while. Here's what I found, and if you know anything about razors, please let me know. I'm totally ignorant of them:
>Blade itself marked "W, Hawcroft & Sons, Sheffield, and "RENOWN". William Hawcroft born in 1801, apprenticed with a William Revitt, partnered with Samuel Pearson and razors marked "Hawcroft & Pearson". Hawcroft went solo in 1844 with his sons. In 1868 he was gored by a bull through the head and died. The sons carried on the business until 1874. So my razor had to have been made between 1844 and 1874. It's the only one I found with the word "REN---OWN" split up around the marking, so that's probably the clue to it's true vintage.
My handle is an early plastic type material in the "sugarcane" motif, probably a later replacement. The box is for a German made knife and not original.<
Associating real people with an old object really brings it to life. I don't think I have to explain that here. You get it.

 

[DWalt]

My maternal grandfather always shaved with a straight razor. I well remember the leather "strop" he had to sharpen his. He had at least two straight razors, no idea what happened to them. Probably thrown away when he died. I guess only barbers use them today.

 

[shamrocker]

Very Nice

I love the rounded tip, but you left out the most important part.... how's it shave?
Everything in my razor rotation is at least a hundred years old.
I took up shaving with straights about 20 years ago, gives me an excuse for collecting them.
Nice razor, strop her up and enjoy.
Scott

 

[Wyatt Burp]

I love the rounded tip, but you left out the most important part.... how's it shave?
Everything in my razor rotation is at least a hundred years old.
I took up shaving with straights about 20 years ago, gives me an excuse for collecting them.
Nice razor, strop her up and enjoy.
Scott

I have a full beard and haven't tried it shaving my neck yet. Can I sharpen it on a stone? And how does that leather strap sharpener work? I only seen them in the movies. The razor has some edge to it now. I'll try it next time as is.

 

[amazingflapjack]

Being hollow ground, I think a razor strop would be preferable(?).

 

[Jessie]

The leather straightens the rolled edge back out and if it's too thin, will remove the roll. It doesn't technically sharpen it, rather it brings the edge back to bear.
I have my grandfathers razor and the strop is somewhere around here, too.

 

[STCM(SW)]

Mine is T.J.C. & Co Germany

upload foto

 

[kraynky]

The leather straightens the rolled edge back out and if it's too thin, will remove the roll. It doesn't technically sharpen it, rather it brings the edge back to bear.
I have my grandfathers razor and the strop is somewhere around here, too.

Same here. I have Granddad's razor, strop, soap cup and brush. I recall watching him as a kid thinking "How does he not cut himself?" Now as an adult (58) I look at the razor and think "I'd cut my doggone throat if I tried that!" I suppose I was just never taught how to use them. My Dad was using the double edge "modern" razor of the day when I first borrowed it and shaved my peach fuzz. I'll never forget how weird it made my upper lip feel after scraping off the fuzz. I haven't shaved my upper lip in well over 40 years now. Probably feel the same way if I did it now.

Thanks for the great memories!

 

[CelticSire]

All this talk about razor strops brings back memories of my childhood. None of them have anything to do with sharpening a razor. Did get my attention at the time, though...

 

[shamrocker]

hey Wyatt

first off don't take a stone to it, the stones that are used on these are so fine most of us don't have anything even near fine enough.
Do some reading, here's a place to start
Straight Razor Place - Welcome
do a search on "honing" I would send it off to somebody who does these on a regular basis. you will find several on that site, they don't charge much and they have maybe a thousand dollars in stones. For the cost of one of the fancy new razors with 5 blades that honing will last you a year or two maybe more.
I also have a full beard and only shave my neck and my cheeks, that is a bit scary the first couple times but I get a fantastic shave and a lot of satisfaction in using a method and tools that have been out of "style" for a hundred years.
The other poster is right, all the strop does is straighten out the rolled edge of the blade (yes its that thin)
That site will show you how to make the lather, apply it, and how to shave. It is a lost art.
If you decide its for you, you will have a bit of money invested in the tools you will need ie: shaving mug, badger brush, good soap, strop etc.
There are a world of straights out there for collectors and for me its nice to collect something I use (as our guns)
Good Luck, Enjoy
Scott

 

[Wyatt Burp]

Thanks, Shamrocker. I appreciate it. Here. I took a picture of it with a couple shooters to keep it gun related at another gun forum.

 

[44wheelman]

Very cool to have history to associate an object with.

"In 1868 he was gored by a bull through the head and died."

Whenever I'd pick up the razor, that's what I would remember.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I have several straight razors, a couple I inherited from my dad and I bought one or two. My dad shaved with a double edged safety razor or an electric shaver - I never saw him attempt to shave with a straight razor. I think about it from time to time but it scares me!!!!!

This is what I mean by a double edged safety razor:

http://cdn1.bigcommerce.com/n-ww20x...10/IMG_9448__34929.1487009494.482.321.jpg?c=2

©2009-2017 Razor Emporium, LLC

If you look you can see it comes apart - THAT is exactly what my dad used - and I still have it. I shaved with it as a teenager but switched to a more modern razor in my 20s. I don't go near it; I just keep it for sentimental reasons. Trust me, you can get a nasty cut!

 

[codenamedave]

Dang that is pretty old! We're talking Civil War here. I see the marks on the handle around the pivot, maybe from the pin being riveted after replacement? I also still have granddad's razor, a Henckel's, and strop. Wasn't owned by anybody famous, just family.

first off don't take a stone to it, the stones that are used on these are so fine most of us don't have anything even near fine enough.
Do some reading, here's a place to start
Straight Razor Place - Welcome
do a search on "honing" I would send it off to somebody who does these on a regular basis. you will find several on that site, they don't charge much and they have maybe a thousand dollars in stones. For the cost of one of the fancy new razors with 5 blades that honing will last you a year or two maybe more.
I also have a full beard and only shave my neck and my cheeks, that is a bit scary the first couple times but I get a fantastic shave and a lot of satisfaction in using a method and tools that have been out of "style" for a hundred years.
The other poster is right, all the strop does is straighten out the rolled edge of the blade (yes its that thin)
That site will show you how to make the lather, apply it, and how to shave. It is a lost art.
If you decide its for you, you will have a bit of money invested in the tools you will need ie: shaving mug, badger brush, good soap, strop etc.
There are a world of straights out there for collectors and for me its nice to collect something I use (as our guns)
Good Luck, Enjoy
Scott

Thanks for the link, one of these days I'll see if one of those experts can rescue gramps' blade.

I have several straight razors, a couple I inherited from my dad and I bought one or two. My dad shaved with a double edged safety razor or an electric shaver - I never saw him attempt to shave with a straight razor. I think about it from time to time but it scares me!!!!!

This is what I mean by a double edged safety razor:

http://cdn1.bigcommerce.com/n-ww20x...10/IMG_9448__34929.1487009494.482.321.jpg?c=2

©2009-2017 Razor Emporium, LLC

If you look you can see it comes apart - THAT is exactly what my dad used - and I still have it. I shaved with it as a teenager but switched to a more modern razor in my 20s. I don't go near it; I just keep it for sentimental reasons. Trust me, you can get a nasty cut!

My domicile is old enough that the medicine cabinet has a slot in the back, I'm guessing you know what those were for.