I've posted a photo below. I know this isn't the prettiest or flashiest razor in the world. Actually, it's about as plain and bland looking as possible. Man alive, does it shave!
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There's another thing I want to say. Thanks to this razor, I've recaptured what I thought I'd lost for a few months. I thought I'd lost the ability to get a wicked edge with the equipment I have. Now, I've found my mojo! Honing is fun again, and I hope it just gets better from now on.
For the past 12 months I was having a horrific time trying to sharpen a special razor that simply would not hold an edge. Someone who knows a lot more about stuff than I do helped me understand what it is about that specific razor that makes it no good as a razor, notwithstanding it's good looks and bloodline. Confirmed what I had been thinking, not from expertise, but just from my personal battle with that particular artifact.
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Yesterday at the flea market I unearthed an H. & J.W. King Razor, etched with "King's Hollow Ground" on the blade. an old barber's notch heavy grind manufactured sometime between 1857 and 1876, when the company went out of business, in New York. They were known as "Importers of Fine Englilsh Cutlery" which makes this old razor most likely of Sheffield lineage. Somewhere between 154 and 135 years old. Hone wear is minor. This is the razor in the second photo below.
It probably hadn't been sharpened for a hundred years. It's somewhat of a stubtail. Of course, it's an ugly razor, considering all of the age-darkening patina it's taken on. No rust though, remarkably. Scales are most likely bone dyed black, with a couple of the characteristic little round holes. The pins and scales are bound to be the originals. I've still got to tighten up the pivot pin in the next couple of days.
It's barely a quarter hollow, resembles a near-wedge, and the edge this one took on is a sight to behold. The old steel in that blade looks like velvet under magnification. It was popping hair off my arm coming off the 8K Norton. I finished it on a 12K Naniwa, followed by the Shapton 16K, 10 laps on the Shapton 30K, then through the white pasted leather and CrOx leather, canvas, cowhide Illinios strop and Russian horsehide.
Tomorrow's the test shave with that one. I'm really looking forward to it. I'll come back and post, good or bad.
