Here is some info on the razor in this listing. Afterward, there is my story and what I do if you would like to continue scrolling and read about that.
Razor Information:
Country/Region of origin - Solingen Germany
Maker/Made for - Advanced beauty products
Model/trademark - #40 Rex Stainless
Width Size/grind - 11/16 hollow
Blade condition - excellent
Scales condition - excellent
Additional notes/comments:
This week on the auction block is a fantastic vintage piece that was made in Solingen Germany roughly 100 years ago. This beautiful straight razor is of very high quality and is in excellent all original condition. The stamps, blade face etch, and original scales are all in great shape. The razor was tested after a thorough honing session and it shaves so nicely. This razor also comes with its original box as shown in the photos. A truly awesome offering for your consideration.
Some of the straight razors are well over 100 years old, so they might have a few cosmetic age spots, blemishes, or pitting marks that remained after restoration. My objective is to recondition the blade without compromising the integrity of the steel. Any blemishes or markings left after restoration are merely cosmetic reminders of its age and do not affect the use of the razor in any way.
Honing - I don't take any shortcuts when it comes to honing razors. Every razor listed on my auctions will have a proper and thorough session on the stones. I scrutinize the edge through every phase of sharpening and refining. But regardless of how nice the edge looks or passes the HHT test, the shave test is what truly counts. So before listing a razor, I will do a test shave to make sure it shaves close and comfortably. Afterward, the blade is sterilized and stropped, so it will be fully ready to use out of the box.
My Story: About 10 years ago, I became fascinated with old straight razors and their history. After restoring my first vintage straight razor and seeing it brought back to life, I was instantly addicted and it became my main hobby and passion. I spent most of my time researching and diving into the past of these wonderful old razors. I also spent countless hours learning the art and craft of honing straight razors.
I eventually built up quite a sizable personal collection of vintage straights, but I could no longer afford to continue purchasing razors and items needed to do the work & make the things I wanted to, like scales and strops. That is when I decided to start Duke City Vintage Shaving. That not only gave me a way to continue funding my hobby & passion, but also a way to do my part in trying to keep the art of straight razor shaving alive. I think it would be a shame to see this wonderful part of shaving history fade away and become a lost art.
Not only is it awesome to hold and shave with a piece that is 100-200 years old, but in my opinion, straight razor shaving is the most enjoyable way to shave. With proper technique and a well honed blade, it is also the best shave you can get. These antique/vintage razors were made with superior steel and craftmanship and have stood the test of time.
I take great pride in my work and do my best to make everything I list something someone would be very happy to have and enjoy. If, for any reason, you are not completely satisfied, I will always go above and beyond to remedy any concerns. I also have a no questions asked free return policy.
When I acquire a vintage razor, it will eventually go through a process before being listed in my auctions. Everything is done carefully and mostly by hand. Depending on the condition of the razor I acquired, it will have either a light or full reconditioning. Each razor only if needed, will have received the treatments listed below:
1.) Removal of active rust, dirt, grime, tarnish, oxidation, & corrosion
2.) Pins tension adjusted or hardware replaced if needed. New scales made for razors with damaged or severely worn ones
3.) Polishing both the blade & scales
4.) Honing, stropping, test shaving, sterilizing the razor, re-strop, placing in vci paper for rust protection
If you are just starting out with straights, I recommend watching some tutorial videos on YouTube to get a visual. I don't personally have a channel due to time restraints with my schedule, but I hope to in the future. There are lots of people who have shaving channels that can be helpful. Take your time and go slow because there is a learning curve, but I promise you will get the hang of it with some practice. The razor has to be used properly to shave well. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to message me.
Auction style only... There are NO buy it now or best offer options on the listings. All auctions will continue until the scheduled ending time. I am unable to stop an auction in progress to sell a razor. Thank you for understanding.