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  1. #1
    Junior Member Blooze's Avatar
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    Default Help choosing first razor from family heirlooms.

    Last year at Xmas my father gave me a box with two of my Great Grandfather's straights and 3 of my Great Uncles straights and Swaty. I think I've finally worked up the courage to try one out and would like to pick one to get honed and buy a strop as well. I've attached a couple of pics of what I have to work with. The last razor was made in the town where I went to college (it's an extra hollow ground, fwiw). Obviously the 2nd and 3rd one would need major work done if they can be fixed at all.

    Left to right:
    Case Brothers Tested XX ---great uncle
    Tom Ray Double Forged --- great grandfather
    DePews The Perfect Razor --- great uncle
    Claus BarbersSpec --- great grandfather
    George Wosten Holmes IXL --- great uncle
    Blish Mize Extra Hollow Ground --- College town

    Higher res pics can be seen here (hover over pic on right side to get size options):
    http://shanemoorephotography.smugmug...6505&k=HTFNjrp




  2. #2
    Senior Member JordanM's Avatar
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    I am a noob as well, but most say go with a hollowed round edge. The only one you have that looks like a usable blade with a round edge looks to be more of a wedge shape to me # 5. IMHO #1 in your pictures looks like the best bet 4 and 6 look ok as well. You might want to pick them up with a shaving hold and pretend to shave with them off of your face and see what is most comfortable as well. You could also have whoever honed it tame the tip down as well if you are concerned with that.

  3. #3
    Senior Member blabbermouth Joed's Avatar
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    Welcome to SRP. Regardless of which one you choose to start with send it to one of SRP's members that have honed a lot of razors for a professional edge, it will make a world of difference in your learning curve. I suggest you put the two with missing parts of the blades (chips away for now and focus on one of the good blades. A rounded end would be a wise choice. Good luck and be sure to read through the beginner's forum and the WIKI section for beginners. Take your time and start with just your sideburns. When you get comfortable holding and maneuvering the razor move on to other areas starting with the next easiest to shave.
    “If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got.” (A. Einstein)

  4. #4
    It's bloodletting with style! - Jim KindestCutOfAll's Avatar
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    I recommend the Case.

    They are Great shavers and looks to be in very good shape.

    It will hold the edge for quite some time. During that time you can restore the others.

    Congratulations!!! they are very nice.

    I particularly like the monkey tail on the DePews.
    May your lather be moist and slick, the sweep of your razor sure, and your edge always keen!

  5. #5
    Junior Member Blooze's Avatar
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    The Case is nice. It has a piece of the pearl missing on the other side of the tang, but besides that is in great shape. It's also not as hollow as the other razors (except the wedge of course). The Claus and Blish-Mize seem to me to be very thin towards the edge.

  6. #6
    ace
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    Senior Member blabbermouth ace's Avatar
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    I like #6. The square point can be very mildly muted and made safer without changing the shape at all.

  7. #7
    The Knight who says NI! mcgyver74's Avatar
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    My vote goes for #5...

  8. #8
    Junior Member Blooze's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ace View Post
    I like #6. The square point can be very mildly muted and made safer without changing the shape at all.
    This was my initial choice as well. I wasn't sure about the extra hollow ground blade. It is very, very thin compared to the others, so I wasn't sure about the difficulty of keeping it honed correctly and it's use as a "starter" razor.

    Quote Originally Posted by mcgyver74 View Post
    My vote goes for #5...
    I love the look of #5. Is a wedge harder to learn with or keep sharp than other styles?

  9. #9
    Senior Member ShavingSrgn's Avatar
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    I would have them ALL worked on if possible. I would talk to a reputable "restorer" (there's a number of great guys here on SRP) about having them restored. You have some INCREDIBLE family history there! It would be great to have them all in your rotation. I especially like #5 -- gotta love that barber's notch!
    Last edited by ShavingSrgn; 03-19-2012 at 11:59 PM.

  10. #10
    Junior Member Blooze's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ShavingSrgn View Post
    I would have them ALL worked on if possible. I would talk to a reputable "restorer" (there's a number of great guys here on SRP) about having them restored. You have some INCREDIBLE family history there! It would be great to have them all in your rotation. I especially like #5 -- gotta love that barber's notch!
    I plan on eventually having them all restored, but I thought it would be wayyyyy cool to learn on one of the family razors. Of course the college one isn't family, but it was made in the town I went to school at (Atchison, KS--a pretty small town now, and I'm sure even more small then).

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