All About Pocket Knives

Well this is my first razor purchase its a W. R. CASE & SONS BRADFORD PA 5/8 Straight Razor
I know little to nothing about them, but this one looked good and I think the price was ok.

Boy that's a nice one. Put an edge in her and I bet she'd shave real good. I like it.

Looks to be in great condition! Good way to start!

Wayne

Wow, that one looks clean all the way around. Nice!!

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Mike

that's a beauty.

Excellent score!

Thanks everyone. I need to get a few books and start reading up on them

Looks like a nice one in great condition.

Great score, You got a nice shape one. The thing with razors to look for is the top spine edge wear where it grinds down into a flat spot from honing. Some people put tape on the spine when they hone to prevent this. I don't as it still changes the sharpening angle minutely and you want the edge and the spine to wear together so your razor keeps its blade geometry . This will change the sharpening angle eventually and if its to big a flat spot its used up or tired as they say. The other main thing is rust pits close to the bevel. Light pits further back can sometimes be polished out but if they are in the cutting edge you almost always have to turn a 5/8s razor into a 4/8 and again ruining the blade geometry and the way the grind feels. Also a pitted razor is prone to rust again and one that is polished is easier to care for and keep nice. Looks like your good on both counts, She ought to be a good whisker wacker.

Cowdiddly wrote:Great score, You got a nice shape one. .

You have any idea of the age.

Thanks
Gary

Well Im not a Case Head, but we have plenty of expert Case guys here. Its stamped made in Bradford and thats been a while since they put that on knives. They will know when Case was using Bradford stamp and chime in. I think later Case started making them called Red Imp if I remember correctly.
Im just going by the shape of the monkey tail (finger rest), I would guess around 1900-1920ish. Later razors have a skinnier monkeytail and as you get back in 18 and 1700s the monkey tails grow progressively fatter. Until they are almost squarish on the first ones.
And the very very first ones were actually shaped like little baby chopping axes and if you find one of those call me immediately lol

Now since your new to it I would like to add a few off topic suggestions to keep it nice being its in such wonderful shape.
1. You want to store your razors in a dry place rather than the bathroom sink or the steamy environment. I keep mine in a desk in a different room.
2. A razor is not like a pocketknife and if you use it like one you will break a chip out of it. Also I would not advise using a dremel or other power to to do any polishing although it can be done if you are super careful and stay away from the thin edge. The carbon in these is around 1.25-1.35%, where your basic 1095 pocket knife is .95%. they are harder and more brittle
3. Never run your shaving razor under or in water. The water runs back where the razor is pinned and causes problems later. This is why you see Barbers wiping lather on the back of their hand or a towel. You want to keep it dry as possible only the moisture of the lather.
4. When your done dry it well and hit it on a strop 4-5 licks just to slightly warm it to get rid of the moisture. dry and your good
5 If you are not going to use it for say a month or so. a light coat of oil does not hurt for storing.
To many good uns ruined by improper care and use and about 75-80% or what you see out there on Ebay and flea markets are Junk. It will last many many years if taken care of.

Good advice. I agree, from what little I know about Case dating on the dates. Those Red Imp wedges made by Case have a very good reputation as well for being great shavers.

the WATERFALL handle is very nice....here is similar age W.R. CASE knife in same material
"IF THESE KNIVES COULD TALK"

[quote="Cowdiddly"]Well Im not a Case Head, but we have plenty of expert Case guys here. Its stamped made in Bradford and thats been a while since they put that on knives. They will know when Case was using Bradford stamp and chime in. I think later Case started making them called Red Imp if I remember correctly.
Im just going by the shape of the monkey tail (finger rest), I would guess around 1900-1920ish. Later razors have a skinnier monkeytail and as you get back in 18 and 1700s the monkey tails grow progressively fatter. Until they are almost squarish on the first ones.


Cowdiddly
Thanks for taking the time to write all this, I would have never though I couldn't rinse it under water. I never going to use it, its for display only, I also may resale it, I've had a few nice offers, I'm not even going to sharpen it. Would it be safe to use Renaissance Wax Polish to protect it. I use it on most of my collection.

Well that stuff is supposed to be for museum pieces with a museum price so it ought to be good enough for a razor. I just keep a light coat of hair clipper oil on mine, but I use mine perdy reglar. Id use Cosmoline but it keeps gummin up me beard.

I use mine exclusively, only way I shave normally. But since my elbow surgery I can't use them since I'm one handed for now, so I'm back to the old Gillette safety razors for now.

When I'm using them I just keep them dry, no rust. If like now they aren't being used for a while I wipe them down with a light coat of EEZOX just like my guns. The Ren Wax should work well too.

CD, you reckon that cosmoline would work for an aftershave? lol

I contacted Case to see if they could date the razor, below is the email from them.
Cowdiddly you were dead on with the Date.


Good morning Gary,

Thank you for the pictures and what a beautiful Straight Razor. It is in excellent condition which you do not see very often. Looking at the tang stamp, W.R,. Case & Sons Cutlery, Bradford, PA was used until 1915. I would suggest call Jim Sargent. Jim has written several books on Knives and Razors. Jim’s telephone number is 256-xxx-xxxx if you want to have a value placed on it.

Sincerely,
Marcy
Marcy Tully | W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co. | Consumer Relations |
PO Box 4000, Bradford, PA 16701 | t: +1.888.445.6433 | f: +1.814.368.1736 | e: [email protected]