I just got a hold of a CV Heljestrand KEN. I can’t find any information about it, but I’m curious what I’ve stumbled across.
CV Heljestrand KEN Information???
- Thread starter TheFinestGent
- Start date
If you track down BARBIE you'll have the matching set...
Welcome to the forum. Any chance of a photo or two? We loves our photos.
Heljestrand made good razors. I have one or 26 of them. In fact I have yet to find any Swedish straight razor in reasonable condition (EA Berg, Bjorn and Eriksson, JA Hellberg, Tornblom etc) that isn't good. Many Swedish manufacturers had models that were almost identical in so far as I would not be surprised if one made blanks for the others.
If I'm not mistaken, the Swedes also made DE safety razors. I have never tried them though.
Do you have a picture of your razor? I tried using Google but I couldn't find anything. If it's a straight (as you posted in the SR forum) I could assume that it is likely to be a 4/8 or 5/8 razor as these were the most common sizes made in Sweden. Larger sizes were typically for the export market.
It is almost guaranteed it will hold a good edge, but will probably require more honing than a Sheffield or Solingen to get to that edge as Swedish steel is hard.
If I'm not mistaken, the Swedes also made DE safety razors. I have never tried them though.
Do you have a picture of your razor? I tried using Google but I couldn't find anything. If it's a straight (as you posted in the SR forum) I could assume that it is likely to be a 4/8 or 5/8 razor as these were the most common sizes made in Sweden. Larger sizes were typically for the export market.
It is almost guaranteed it will hold a good edge, but will probably require more honing than a Sheffield or Solingen to get to that edge as Swedish steel is hard.
Pics are good. I've seen two or three of these come around for sale over the past few years. No idea what KEN means but Heljestrands are top notch razors.
Steve56
Ask me about shaving naked!
I have one or two marked KEN. Calling @Polarbeard ….
I got a pair in a lot from Japan, one marked MK130 and the other KEN, but other than that they seem to be identical. Coming from Japan would mean that they are post WW2. Neither is made quite as well as the older ones, the stabilizer came down to the edge, and one was not well ground at the heel on one side. I’ve since acquired a third but can’t remember if it’s marked MK130 or KEN. I’ll dig them out later today if i have time.
I got a pair in a lot from Japan, one marked MK130 and the other KEN, but other than that they seem to be identical. Coming from Japan would mean that they are post WW2. Neither is made quite as well as the older ones, the stabilizer came down to the edge, and one was not well ground at the heel on one side. I’ve since acquired a third but can’t remember if it’s marked MK130 or KEN. I’ll dig them out later today if i have time.
Last edited:
Steve56
Ask me about shaving naked!
OK, here we go. These two razors were bought in a lot out of Japan, and were NOS when I got them. Other than the markings, they appear identical. As mentioned above, the stabilizers came down to the edge and the KEN (top razor) has a wonky grind at the heel, and you can look at it and see the weak heel. I relieved the heel enough to hone the edge and not the stabilizer. The KEN also has a ‘13’ stamped on the show side tang. No idea what ‘KEN’ means but maybe it’s not a big leap to think that maybe the ‘K’ stood for ‘Kindal’?
Steve56
Ask me about shaving naked!
Here’s a third No130, bought used at a later date and not part of the 2-razor lot posted above.
I've seen at least two that had a "14" stamped on the show side as well.
Steve56
Ask me about shaving naked!
I wonder if that number is mimicking Filarmonica’s monkey tail number indicating the importer/warranty people?
Could be, seemingly they were for export beyond Europe, see here for a similar razor:
What the heljestrand? A 14 from Argentina?
So I acquired this beguiling CV Heljestrand (front tang stamp) E. Montagnac Buenos Aires 14 (back tang stamp). I'm scratching my head trying to make sense of the 14. It's not a true 14 anymore at just a tad over 6/8. I also haven't come across a Heljestrand 14 in any lists. The Argentinian part...
www.badgerandblade.com
Steve56
Ask me about shaving naked!
They’re stamped into the blank.
Beautiful razors Steve
As an aside, I've seen misspelled stamps on Japanese Blades from Post-War into the 50s - usually associated with vowels...
Steve56
Ask me about shaving naked!
TY sir!
