I bought an antique razor but I don't know anything about it

B

Blastermaster

Joined
Oct 29, 2014
Messages
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Hey guys, I'm new to BladeForums so forgive me if this post seems a touch "noobish" if you will. I recently bought this at a local antique shop in downtown lebanon, ohio, on mainstreet, in the Broadway Antique Mall. I paid exactly $20 USD for it and the cashier simply put it in a brown paper bag and I walked out with it. It is a folding straight razor, with a composite plastic handle and a blade of unknown steel. The tang of the blade is stamped with the words "GOLD COIN" on the right side, and the words "Union Cutlery Co. Olean NY" apear on the left side. I am currently trying to get my iphone 5 to upload to my desk top, but its being stubborn. If I can get some pictures of it up I will

Yours truly
Blastermaster
 
Based on what you gave, here is a little information about that razor:

http://straightrazorplace.com/razors/106710-union-cutlery-co-gold-coin.html

The steel is almost centainly a simple carbon steel. There are a lot of companies that have made straight razors, most of them no longer around. Most of the blades made in the US or Germany are going to be quality blades. Some other European countries made good razors too (Thiers-Issard come to mind) but they can be hit or miss with the quality. The best way to tell if you have a winner or a clunker is to hone it up and use it!

If you post some pictures I will help you out more if I can. I just finished this project here and can tell you the process that I went through if you want to restore and/or put on new scales:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1231203-My-restored-straight-razor!
 
If I had to guess, I think you probably got a reasonable razor there. Some pics would help. The main thing will be if it will hone up and shave,
the handle will likely be celluloid, if its black, thats good, if it is a fake tortoise shell or amber colored, they are a bit less stable and are susceptible to chemical breakdown, so you'll need to keep an eye on it in that case.

link the photos in from something like photobucket or another sharing site.
Feel free to ask questions! we are always happy to help, most of us were noobies to this too, and came here to learn.
 
yep, it would be carbon not many vintage razors were stainless. a real razor so get it honed stropped and shave. barbacide, marvicide or scrubbing bubbles will disinfect it. do not use Clorox on a razor. it will cause you problems.
 
Blastermaster, you did not mention whether or not you intend to shave with your new acquisition or if you have ever shaved with any straight razor. If you are new to this, I will be happy to hone your razor for free in order to give you a chance to actually shave with your razor. Send me a PM if you are interested.
 
blastermaster- if you just need to get pictures form your iphone to your computer, just email them to yourself from the phone.. then download them via email on the pc. SO much simpler than screwing around with trying to sync the iphone via iTunes.
 
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