I'm a razor newbie!

[caddyman1973]

I finally bought me a razor! I found it during the US 127 yard sale and just had to bring it home. I know absolutely nothing about razors but I thought I did alright with my first one. Simmons Hardware/Keen Kutter.

[robinetn]

Hey C-MAN , that's one great find ! Have you tried it out yet ?

Bob

[FRJ]

Nice razor. Looks like a pretty full blade and a decent box.

[Beechtree]

Great score caddyman. The scalloped spine is a pretty feature. The graphic on the handle is also very interesting.

[caddyman1973]

Thanks guys! I thought it was unusual looking, but hey, I know nothing about them. Hey Bob I think I'll stick to the Pro Glide, LOL!

[deanmm56]

Nice one Caddyman

Once you buy one then the addiction begins ....

[Owd Wullie]

Neat old razor.

Fancy handles/scales are a plus as is the "worked/scalloped" spine.

Edge on that one is toast. That black looking rust runs deep and that type of full hollow grind is really thin at the edge. Probably have to have that one sharpened way back into the blade to get back to good steel in order to use it. Most likely lose about a sixteenth of inch of blade width.

Razor was used and loved in its day. It has some noticeable hone wear on the spine and the edge is also just about to get into the stabilizer at the heel/

That looks to be a 5/8 square point. For some reason unbeknownst to me, that size is pretty much the norm for razors of that era. Square points are pretty much the norm as well for American razors of that era.

Still a neat old piece from the 20's or thereabouts.

[caddyman1973]

Thanks for the info Wullie!

[dudleythetogi]

Love etched blades,prob. best off not trying to polish...seen too many people sand whats left of the etch off and wind up with a shiney blob.

[caddyman1973]

Nah Dud, leavin' her like she is...

[twdroppoint]

Hopefully not to steal any thunder ... I too decided to buy my first straight razor the other day, and interestingly enough, it is a Keen Kutter also lol And I know zero about them ...

Compared to mine, your box is AWESOME. But I've found it confusing trying to date the thing

I want to date mine between 1874 and 1904 ... based on when the wedge logo began to be used (1904 according to Heuring), EC Simmons became Simmons Hardware (1874 according to Heuring), Shapleigh bought the rights (1940) and swapped out EC Simmons in the wedge part of the logo for Shapleigh, etc. Based on these criteria, I would date yours between 1904 and 1940 ... and I see someone said the 20's so maybe I'm dating along the right lines for both of ours ? Mine has no wedge logo anywhere, says Simmons Hardware (not EC), etc.

Here's mine, and I think it's carbon steel (stamped Germany 419 W on the other side), and I was told it was real ebony and have no reason to doubt the person I bought it from ...

[Owd Wullie]

Based on what I've read about full hollow grinds, I'd say yours is late 1880's-to 1890's.

The handles ( scales ) look like black horn to me. Looks like it may have been re-pinned at some point in time or somebody tightened up the hinge pin pretty roughly.

That is not a big deal as I'd say there probably as many razors out there with changed out/hammered pins as not.

Neat old razor either way.

You can get the rust off by scraping it gently with a cheap pocket knife as the blades on those things are hard as they can be made. They are fragile so don't put much pressure out near the edge where the metal is really thin.

[twdroppoint]

Based on what I've read about full hollow grinds, I'd say yours is late 1880's-to 1890's.

The handles ( scales ) look like black horn to me. Looks like it may have been re-pinned at some point in time or somebody tightened up the hinge pin pretty roughly.

That is not a big deal as I'd say there probably as many razors out there with changed out/hammered pins as not.

Neat old razor either way.

You can get the rust off by scraping it gently with a cheap pocket knife as the blades on those things are hard as they can be made. They are fragile so don't put much pressure out near the edge where the metal is really thin.

Awesome feedback ... I was hoping to be in the ballpark with my dating, and I wasn't too far off I guess

Unfortunately I've already listed it on ebay ... it started 10 minutes ago ! I wasn't sure if I'd get a response and I have a limited window I list things ... I'm kind of neurotic with the ebay thing lol. If I hadn't already posted pics, I'd try the cheap pocket knife trick to clean it, but I don't want to change it now in any way from how I've listed it unfortunately and risk damaging it. I'll know for my next one though ... I see them regularly at sales, and I decided it was time to try one out to see if I could eye one of value and collectibility This one just looked old, and not just because of the case. But I already listed it with my stab at dating it. I can edit it though to at least reflect a possible dating of around 1890 or so, as well as the possible black horn instead of ebony.

So lemme ask ... what would the difference between ebony and blackhorn be in looking at it ?

Thanks for your help btw, much appreciated !

[caddyman1973]

Neat looking razor! I really like the etch!!!

[twdroppoint]

Neat looking razor! I really like the etch!!!

Yeah that eagle ! Can't go wrong ! It actually reminds me a bit of a Navy SEAL pin lol

I guess some of the really old Keen Kutters had a hornet on them lol ?

[Owd Wullie]

Based on what I've read about full hollow grinds, I'd say yours is late 1880's-to 1890's.

The handles ( scales ) look like black horn to me. Looks like it may have been re-pinned at some point in time or somebody tightened up the hinge pin pretty roughly.

That is not a big deal as I'd say there probably as many razors out there with changed out/hammered pins as not.

Neat old razor either way.

You can get the rust off by scraping it gently with a cheap pocket knife as the blades on those things are hard as they can be made. They are fragile so don't put much pressure out near the edge where the metal is really thin.

Awesome feedback ... I was hoping to be in the ballpark with my dating, and I wasn't too far off I guess

Unfortunately I've already listed it on ebay ... it started 10 minutes ago ! I wasn't sure if I'd get a response and I have a limited window I list things ... I'm kind of neurotic with the ebay thing lol. If I hadn't already posted pics, I'd try the cheap pocket knife trick to clean it, but I don't want to change it now in any way from how I've listed it unfortunately and risk damaging it. I'll know for my next one though ... I see them regularly at sales, and I decided it was time to try one out to see if I could eye one of value and collectibility This one just looked old, and not just because of the case. But I already listed it with my stab at dating it. I can edit it though to at least reflect a possible dating of around 1890 or so, as well as the possible black horn instead of ebony.

So lemme ask ... what would the difference between ebony and blackhorn be in looking at it ?

Thanks for your help btw, much appreciated !

Horn won't have all the little "holes" that piece of wood will. The grain is different with the horn being smoother for the most part. A lot of times, horn will have "bug bites" from dermistid beetle larvae feeding on them too. They don't eat wood that I know of.

That's the quick and dirty. Best way is to look at both side by side and then you'll know what to look for in the future.

Also, you'll see VERY FEW razors with wood scales. Most that you'll see are new production with exotic wood or an old one that somebody made after the original broke.

[twdroppoint]

Based on what I've read about full hollow grinds, I'd say yours is late 1880's-to 1890's.

The handles ( scales ) look like black horn to me. Looks like it may have been re-pinned at some point in time or somebody tightened up the hinge pin pretty roughly.

That is not a big deal as I'd say there probably as many razors out there with changed out/hammered pins as not.

Neat old razor either way.

You can get the rust off by scraping it gently with a cheap pocket knife as the blades on those things are hard as they can be made. They are fragile so don't put much pressure out near the edge where the metal is really thin.

Awesome feedback ... I was hoping to be in the ballpark with my dating, and I wasn't too far off I guess

Unfortunately I've already listed it on ebay ... it started 10 minutes ago ! I wasn't sure if I'd get a response and I have a limited window I list things ... I'm kind of neurotic with the ebay thing lol. If I hadn't already posted pics, I'd try the cheap pocket knife trick to clean it, but I don't want to change it now in any way from how I've listed it unfortunately and risk damaging it. I'll know for my next one though ... I see them regularly at sales, and I decided it was time to try one out to see if I could eye one of value and collectibility This one just looked old, and not just because of the case. But I already listed it with my stab at dating it. I can edit it though to at least reflect a possible dating of around 1890 or so, as well as the possible black horn instead of ebony.

So lemme ask ... what would the difference between ebony and blackhorn be in looking at it ?

Thanks for your help btw, much appreciated !

Horn won't have all the little "holes" that piece of wood will. The grain is different with the horn being smoother for the most part. A lot of times, horn will have "bug bites" from dermistid beetle larvae feeding on them too. They don't eat wood that I know of.

That's the quick and dirty. Best way is to look at both side by side and then you'll know what to look for in the future.

Also, you'll see VERY FEW razors with wood scales. Most that you'll see are new production with exotic wood or an old one that somebody made after the original broke.

More excellent info, many thanks