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Hess Forty-Four

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2011 7:02 am
by brothers
Forgive my enthusiasm. :D I'm not bragging, I'm just excited. In a few days, I'll receive my latest addition. This one is a 6/8 Stainless Steel Frozen Temper that looks NOS. Comments posted on SRP by Lynn, Glenn, and others indicate this is a top shelf razor. The steel is Swedish, and it was made in Germany for Hess Milk Hair Labs in Minnesota. I've also got a Friodur waiting to be honed for the first time (by me). These two new (to me) razors are replacing a couple of 5/8 razors that I recently sold.

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2011 7:54 am
by matt321
This sounds like a nice razor. 8) Congrats!

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2011 5:48 pm
by SmallTank
pics..I need to start drooling sometime :D

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2011 8:11 pm
by whitebar
It's fun having new toys to play with!

Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 8:59 pm
by brothers
Sunday I honed up the Hess and Monday morning was the test shave. It took a nice edge and shaved quite well. It was easy to hone. I had wondered if being stainless might affect the setting of the bevel and the consequent run through the hones, but it was as simple and quick as any other. Knowing it will hold its edge well is a nice bonus. Lovely razor.

Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2011 8:55 am
by Harvitz81
I have one of these razors and they truly are top notch! Enjoy your shaves.

Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 5:33 am
by Gssixgun
Your enthusiasm is forgiven :D

I still haven't found a smoother SS razor than the Hess 44, the Sears/Sta-Sharps come close but not quite... at least IMHO..

Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 5:08 pm
by brothers
Those old SRP reviews came in real handy when I was looking at this to buy.

Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2011 7:46 am
by pinklather
I may one of very few that got a Hess that was underwhelming. Several attempts at honing, gave a good shave, but nothing special. A number of Gencos shave much better.

The only other stainless I've tried was the Dovo inox and a few Friodurs - all of which honed up easily and gave wonderful shaves. I guess not every copy of even the nice trophy blades is a star. 'Sounds like yours is delivering the goods, which is, indeed, satisfying.

Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2011 6:39 am
by brothers
Yesterday was the Hess's turn again, I think it was shave #11 since the full hone treatment about 5 1/2 months ago, and with normal pre-shave stropping, I'm really happy that it's still giving excellent shaves. This is very satisfying.

Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 5:41 am
by JimR
Oh, I've heard only good about the Hess...but this pic is worthless without pictures! The 44 is a lovely razor and deserves to be seen!

Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 6:20 am
by brothers
Jim, I agree, here it is ----

Image

Image

Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 10:58 am
by drmoss_ca
I can't be the only one who gets a warm fuzzy feeling on looking at those pictures. I want to hone it!

Chris

Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 12:52 pm
by Squire
It does call out to be caressed, I wish more of you guys would post pictures.

Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 6:07 pm
by matt321
brothers wrote:Jim, I agree, here it is ----
Ah, a razor most beautiful. 8)

Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 8:02 pm
by brothers
Tomorrow morning I have a date with the pretty Hess, and will be finishing off a tube of Irisch Moos shaving cream. I'm very much looking forward to it.

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 8:31 pm
by brothers
It's been just about a year since I checked in to say I'm lovin' it. Well, nothing's changed. Like ol' Jerry Lee Lewis said once, if ya' aint got somethin', get somethin'. I reckon I got somethin'. Shaves like a dream.

Re: Hess Forty-Four

Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 10:48 am
by DoughBoy68
Congrats! That is a beautiful razor and I know Hess are great shavers. I screwed up a couple years ago by selling a Hess #1, that was before I knew what the were. It wasn't shaving like I thought it should due to my insufficient honing skills at the time. I managed to get my hands on another Hess #1 recently and no way will I let it get away from me. This one shaves great do to my much more experienced honing skills thanks to Glen's (gssixgun) honing videos.

Re: Hess Forty-Four

Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 12:36 pm
by brothers
Glen is a fine gentleman, and knows a lot about razors. He's restored more than one old razor for me in the past. I like his videos too. Would you consider posting a picture of your Hess #1? I'd like to see it.

Re: Hess Forty-Four

Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 10:34 am
by DoughBoy68
Here are the requested pics. When I bought this Hess #1 a couple years ago it had a slight frown so I sent it to Lynn for honing. At the time my 'frown removal' kills were sub standard so I figured I'd let a pro handle it. Hess are sweet shaving razors.

I did manage to pick up another one a few months ago very reasonable ($52 shipped) that I was going to clean up and keep and maybe sell this one. Well, as fate would have it while cleaning I used too much pressure (still can't figure out why) and heard the dreaded 'ting' sound. Yep! broke the blade.....I nearly cried!
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