Here's 6 razors

[moparpogue]

So I was at my wife's grandparent's house. Her grandfather was watching a "How it's Made" show that was covering Dovo Manufacturing. He made a comment to the effect of "I can't believe they still make those. I don't know anyone who shaves with them." I told him that I do and I have 3 razors now. He kind of chuckled and got up out of his chair and walked over to the TV. He reached behind it and pulled out a box. "Take a look at these." When I opened it I found these:



Now they look in a lot worse shape than they really are. (Two are just as bad as they look however.) These were used by a barber in California some place. When he retired he gave his razors to ... I'll spare you the hand-changing details, but they wound up behind his TV.

I told him that there's entire communities devoted to shaving and collecting the razors.

While they look rusted, they're not. They were in a red-felt box covered in what I can only assume was vegetable oil. (I assume this because of the smell.)

In the above photos, from left to right is: H. Boker (Unknown Model, silver inlay on scales.), FW Engels - Leader (My pick to keep.), JA Henckel's - 415, Dubl Duck - Dwarf (Crazy notch in blade... see below), Otto Deutsch - Hans (This one is a puss case.), and Dubl Duck - Satin Wedge (No scales.).

The Dwarf has this crazy notch that looks like it was put there intentionally. Anyone know a reason?



The Hans is a mess. It does have rust and the edge looks like a hair comb. (Pictured to the right of the Dwarf above.) Would it be worth BKing the edge or would that be too much material gone?

I've never sold any of my razors. To be honest about it, how should I describe these? (After cleaning them up... a lot.) I don't want to sell something and someone get absolutely flippant because I failed to describe a flaw. I buy blades to shave with, so I don't particularly look for some things collectors may want.

Thanks for any input. Photodump below.

[moparpogue]

Speaking of the wedge. Since I've gotten PMs mentioning the rust on it I decided to just hit it with some goo-gone to take the oil that was on there. Results:



It's pretty clean for being stored behind someone's TV. There are some dark spots on the blade, but they're not pitted. There's some minor pitting by the spine.

Oddly enough it was sharp enough to shave a strip of hair off my arm.

[hig789]

Man the scales on that Boker are awesome.

[conroygc]

I love when that happens. Mention you shave with straight razors and someone says "Oh really? Have these!"

[Slash McCoy]

There are two blades that are standout restoration candidates. You have several sets of really nice scales there.

[Mr.Oak]

good luck.

[luvmysuper]

C'mon guys, you know better.
This isn't the BST and this member doesn't have enough posts to sell even if it was.

[rod251]

Great find! I have a Boker identical to yours. I bet yours has a British steel etching on the blade doesn't it? After Larry Andro honed mine up it is a great shaver. I love all things Boker.

[moparpogue]

Good news. Got back to my wife's grandparent's house and her grandmother said "Forget about selling them. You can keep them all." Looks like I have a lot of restoration to do. (No. I don't plan on selling any of them.)

[Bayamontate]

That Leader looks awesome.