This one came in a Classicshaving.com box and doesn't actually say 'Chronik' on the tang, but when you compare it to the second you'll see it is the same razor branded for sale by Heinrich Klein, and like both the others, it has the two hearts under the crown on the tang:
The second is exactly the same, but is branded 'Chronik' on the tang:
Unfortunately, it doesn't close without some care as the blade would like to catch on one of the scales and it does have some superficial rust spots, but none are anywhere near the blade edge. Here are a couple of examples:
The third razor has yellow celluloid scales, but the same tang markings as the second:
It shows signs of heavy honing in the past, and somewhat unevenly; see how in this closeup of the blade the spine has flats worn into it at both ends but less so in the middle, and the edge has matching deeper bevels at the ends?
Unfortunately, I forgot to take a similar picture of the reverse of the blade, which shows similar changes in the middle of the spine and the edge. I can only think someone has once upon a time honed the razor pressing at the tip and heel on one direction, but with a finger in the middle of the blade going in the other direction. Either that, or the blade was bent and honing has been used to flatten it. It's an odd wear pattern.
All the razors have shallow scalloped jimps on the top of the tangs:
There are deeper and narrower jimps on the underside, some of which have been allowed to grow some rust:
Honing was done in what has become my standard routine:
From left to right can be seen the Shapton Diamond Glass lapping Plate, which was used on all the hones prior to this round of honing, then there are 2k, 5k, 8k, 15k and 30k Shapton stones, and finally some HandAmerican Liquid Chrome on leather magnetically attached to a corian bench hone. After lapping and rinsing the hones, starting with the finest and working back to the coarsest to minimise risk of coarser particles contaminating a finer hone, the razors were given ten strokes (five roundtrips) on the 2k, twenty on the 5k, thirty on the 8k, forty on the 15k and fifty on the 30k. Each razor was rinsed between hones to reduce contamination of a finer hone by coarser particles from the previous hone. The hones were also rinsed between razors to remove any steel particles. The spray bottle of water was used to wet the hones prior to use (they don't need soaking like Nortons do). After honing each razor had 100 strokes (ie fifty roundtrips) on the chromium dioxide/leather bench hone. All the hones and the leather bench hone were turned end for end halfway through each razor's visit to it to ensure that any possible unevenness would be affecting both point and heel of the blade. All this is usual practice for me. The only difference between them all on honing was the marked reduction in drag of the yellow-scaled razor (#3) on the hones. For all its signs of wear, this feels like it will be the sharpest.
I shall be stropping each razor according to my usual routine as well. There will be ten strokes (five roundtrips) on the 'linen' side of an Illinois #827, thirty strokes on the rough russian leather side of this intermediate strop, and then twenty strokes on my antique thick hard Fromm - which is as smooth as glass and nearly as hard! In the interest of a fair comparison, I shall shave in exactly the same way each time. This will mean a hot water wash of the face with Nancy Boy Sweetgrass soap, rinsing and re-application of more of the same soap. One of the last four remaining tubs (?in the world) of Charles Tyrrwhitt Lemon & Cedar cream will be opened and used (via a small Moss scuttle and a Simpson Chubby 3 Best) in honour of this special test. I shall conduct my usual two and a half pass shave - the first pass downwards, the second across, and the third, half pass, will go against the grain only on my cheeks and chin.
I don't know for sure which razor belongs to whom, so I shall continue to call them #1 (classicshaving box, faux tortoiseshell scales, no problem in closing, 'Heinrich Klein' on the tang), #2 (plastic pouch, faux tortoiseshell scales, tries to catch a scale on closing and 'Chronik' on the tang) and #3 has the plastic pouch, yellow scales and 'Chronik' on the tang.
So:
Sunday 2nd December
#1 razor (Heinrich Klein etc) was used.
The first pass (downwards) went OK, and that either means a razor is sharp (it cuts and doesn't pull the hair), or very blunt (it passes over the hair and doesn't even catch on it). Unfortunately it was the latter, as the cross-grain pass showed. This was not very comfortable, and left more stubble than I would normally expect. Attempting to go against the grain did nothing whatsoever to remove the stubble that remained. It just didn't cut it, in all senses. What's more, it left me a bit sore. Looking under the microscope today, I can see why - this razor has a corroded edge with lots of tiny nicks in it! This is at 200X magnification:
If I were strongly motivated, I would now follow a daily progression of repeat honings until the razor either succumbed to my efforts or I gave up on it. This kind of edge often means a soft steel that will look good after honing, but crumbles on usage. But there are two more to try, so I have wiped it with 99% isopropanol and put a thin coating of mineral oil on the blade. I believe this one was bought relatively cheaply as it was not branded 'Chronik' so little harm has been done to the purchaser. I looked up the eBay auction it was sold at, and note it was described as 'never used' - I suppose that might be true, but the mice have certainly been nibbling away at the edge!
Monday 3rd December
#2 Tortoiseshell Chronik was used.
A bit better; there is hope that this razor might be useable with further work. It would shave against the grain, but not as closely as I would expect from my half-hollow TI's or my giant W&B wedge. I believe the purchaser of this razor paid an exorbitant sum for it, and he has my sympathy. I'd happily pay around $30 for it if I wanted a run of the mill Solingen razor. The edge shows a clearly neater appearance than the atrocity above (again at 200X):
Tuesday 4th December
#3 Yellow scaled Chronik was used.
This one felt the smoothest on the hones as noted above. The microscope tells the story as to why:
This didn't shave too badly at all. I've had better, but there were no major faults. I shall take another picture tonight to show the state of the edge after the shave - I hope it isn't going to be a one-shot wonder with a ragged edge. Later - it isn't:
I believe the owner of this razor can continue to use this one as part of a rotation of respectable razors. Knowing him just a little, I think I can say it won't be amongst his best, but it will be, at least, serviceable.
Summary
These are pretty variable. The tortoiseshell handled razors probably have different steel from the older looking yellow scaled version. The older razor could be a decent shaver if it can keep its edge, which is something the owner will have to tell you about after longer term use. The first two really seem to have an inferior steel that breaks down easily at the edge. So, no magic in the brand, but the possibility that some of them may be decent, but ordinary razors. There's no need for anyone to spend vast amounts of money on any other examples that may turn up for auction. So where and how did the myth arise? My theory, which I offer without malice, is this. I have often noticed that poorly honed razors will shave surprisingly well with the grain. I have speculated that microserrations are good for catching hairs that would otherwise just lie flat under the blade and escape being cut. I believe there was once a thread on SMF to this effect - yes, here it is. I do recall that the original promulgator of the magical properties of the Chronik said he shaved several times a day (I can't find the original post, but it was referenced in this one), and so I assume he was shaving downwards each time. My theory is that a ragged-edged razor is an excellent choice for a with-grain-only shave, and that this is what he was noticing. I refer you again to the thread linked above on microserrations and downhill shaving. I can even recommend a very coarse honing compound sold in woodworking specialty stores that will give exactly this edge with little effort (be careful; it eats metal!) If you agree, and like to shave downwards only, buy a Chronik (or a Simco or Zeepk) and enjoy the peculiar efficiency of a ragged edge when shaving with the grain. Should you prefer to shave across the grain, or even against it, save up for an earlier Chronik, or better still, a Thiers Issard!
I know that Chris (El_Alamein), Mike (mparker762) and Lynn (Adjustme69) will be adding their opinions in due course. We have deliberately not discussed our conclusions so as to avoid biasing each other in any way.
Chris
(reminds me of the burst of the tulip bubble in the Golden Century in Holland...)
