New Star in the stable

I picked this Star up on Ebay a few days ago. It cleaned up well and except for an old and somewhat crude repair to the back retainer clip/spring, it works very well with standard SE blades. I have several SE razors, but this is my first Lather Catcher. Closest thing I have to it are my 1912 GEM Damaskene and 1912 Ever Ready. At first, it looked very intimidating, but after one pass, the angle clicked and it provided a great BBS. The angle is closer to my DE's, but like all SE's once the blade starts to "talk" to you the rest is easy. Only question I have is on the ID. I have seen several with more ornate heads and script on them. The handle has me stumped as well. It is badged as a New Model, but I have yet to find this one on the Interweb. Any help on an approximate date would be appreciated.

Looking at Waits Compendium, the markings on the back of the razor indicate that it is an HR-13A, circa 1901.

Waits also shows it with the two-piece star pattern tubular handle. The knurled handle was first used on the on the HR-14A, introduced circa 1902, so the handle may not be original, although it is entirely possible that some of the last HR-13A's could have been sold with more recent handles.

These razors are aggressive shavers with modern blades, but using one with the wedge blade it was designed to use (properly honed and stropped) is an experience not to be missed.

--Bob

Thanks Bob. The shave with a modern blade was wonderful. Shaved Friday evening and almost didn't need to shave this morning before church. If the shave is better with a wedge blade, then it looks like I better start looking for one. You helped confirm that hopefully I don't have a Frankenrazor and at least both pieces came from Kampfe Brothers.

Cooool!

Thank you, gentlemen.

Lovely razor, I just picked up a simular star razor but yours is in much better condition. Congrats!

Billy Goatee - thank you for that picture!
Never seen it before.