PLEASE NOTE that due to a recent PC crash I have lost all my old emails - if necessary please email me again.
UPDATE! Custom jobs/restorations time is currently about 6 weeks; honing about 2 weeks
Strops - Vintage Razors - Honing - Restoration
NB: These items are for sale to people of 18 years old or older ONLY!
I offer a variety of refurbished vintage razors suitable for collectors and shavers of all levels of experience. All razors are refurbished and honed to a shave-ready condition by me, unless otherwise stated. The descriptions and photos are quite comprehensive, but if you require any advice or assistance in choosing a suitable razor please do not hesitate to contact me or visit the UK shaving forum The Shaving Room, where you will find a straight razor section with tips on what to buy, but basically the advice given to a new user is choose a carbon steel razor of 9/16, 5/8 or 11/16ths of an inch wide with a round tip and anything from quarter hollow to full hollow ground. One thing to bear in mind is that very old (say 1900 and earlier) steel is often softer than most modern (say post 1940) steel used in razor manufacture. This isn't always the case, of course, but if you have a very wiry, tough beard it might be worth considering this.
Each listing has many pictures - to see them, click on "enlarge" under the listing image and an enlarged version will open. If you click on the enlarged image (click inside the image area) another view will be shown. The images can be closed at any time with the "close" option shown along with the image. If there is a box available with the razor, it will be shown in one of the images, If no box can be seen that means that the razor comes without a box. I do make hand-made individual razor pouches and pouches/rolls for more than one razor - see my shop listings. I measure each item as exactly as I can. Razor widths are traditionally expressed in eighths of an inch, 8/8 being 1 inch. The most popular size is 5/8ths. Sometimes 1/16ths are used, for example when the size falls between 5/8ths and 6/8ths it is more usual to call it 11/16ths. The measurements stated in the listings are all taken from the edge of the bevel to the top of the spine.
Shipping costs are extra and are based on packaged weight. The packaged weight of an individual razor is around 175gms - I package very carefully, sometimes using boxes, sometimes padded envelopes. I believe in being 'green' so a lot of my packaging is recycled/re-used. A guide to postage/shipping costs is given in the FAQs and Shipping info tabs. My stock is always changing, and as most items are unique they are not usually in stock again once sold, so please check back often! Please note that I can also refurbish your own razor, repin razors and make new scales to your own design or to suit the originals - please contact me to discuss options if this is of interest to you.
I very rarely offer new razors (Revisor and Schultze are notable exceptions - they are fine razors and good shavers) - as I prefer vintage steel, especially Sheffield steel, because I feel that the quality steel produced during the height of open razor production is much superior to most modern steels. This, combined with the privilege of owning an antique item that is part of our heritage makes for an alluring and meaningful package. Every razor has been refurbished, had the bevel reset and has been honed by me. The honing progression for each razor after basic resetting on coarser hones is given in the listings. I use natural and artificial stones such as Naniwa, Shapton, Belgian Blue Whetstones, Les Latneuses Coticules and others. Each razor is then stropped on one of my hand-made strops and is offered in shave-ready condition. Each razor has passed the Hanging Hair Test (HHT) which, although not fail-safe always works for me.