Any information on these?

**BJC** · 03-01-2008, 07:16 PM

Hello all,
Today I was browsing an antique mall and came across three razors labeled as "Keen Kutters", I think. These looked to be single edge razors, vaguely resembling GEM razors. Does anyone have information about these razors - their value, desirability, shave? Thanks for any information.

BJC

**_JP_** · 03-01-2008, 07:53 PM

My impression is that they are an off brand. They work, but they are not highly sought after.

**Suzuki** · 03-02-2008, 03:17 AM

Any other information on the blade or tang?

**Paul_the_Shaver** · 03-02-2008, 04:54 AM

I have an old Keen Kutter pocket knife. This is a brand that goes back to 1866. They mostly made common hand tools like drills, saws, screwdrivers, etc. They made safety razors from about 1905 up until 1941 when they couldn't get metal any more. I think all of them took standard single edge blades. They don't seem to have any value on ebay.

1907 - http://www.collectorsencyclopedia.com/imgins/0653A.jpg
1928 - http://www.collectorsencyclopedia.com/imgins/0654A.jpg
1940 - http://www.collectorsencyclopedia.com/imgins/0161A.jpg

Paul

**BJC** · 03-02-2008, 12:31 PM

Sorry, while I did see a few straights of that brand, I didn't pay them any attention. For not being worth much, they were sure pricey - $25, $35, $45 respectively. The higher priced two had cases with them and seemed to be in decent shape.

**tom myers** · 03-03-2008, 09:23 PM

"Keen Kutter" was a brand name used for various tools, including razors, but also knives, axes, saws, etc. that were distributed by the Simmons Hardware Co. of St. Louis.

Simmons was a large catalog distributing company that seems to have not survived the great depression. The razors brand named "Keen Kutter" that I am familiar with (I have several), were actually maufactured by the Christy Company of Fremont, Ohio. Christy also made razors under their own name. The razors were of the same design and took the same rather unique, notched, single edged, blades which were also made by Christy.

The Christy company is still in business but, as far as I know, hasn't made razors for many years. They still make a little sliding blade pocket knife that they have produced for about a century. It is quite a unique knife and the last I knew was still listed by Vintage Blades, LLC.

Hope this helps,
Tom