MyCleanRed creado por nentab de SoporteMyBB.

I may crosspost this at SRP since there isn't much straight razor traffic here, but wanted to ask here, too.


Is there any way to replace a worn blade on a frameback straight razor? This is a true frameback, with an obivous frame and separate blade (extensively worn). Many framebacks are more of a "frameback style" where it's all one piece, but the true framebacks, as is my understanding, have the removeable blades. Anyway, while antiquing yesterday I came across a Heljestrand frameback stamped 1866, with horn handles. The blade was definitely removeable, but worn considerably IMO. Is it possible to get modern replacement blades? Does anyone make them at all, were they basically a standard pattern?

Now it's highly possible, too, that I'm being overly critical in my expectations of a "usable" razor I find in an antique store. I know that the majority of circa 19th C. razors are going to be quite worn down, but as long as the wear is relatively even would they be worth a pick-up? Most were badly worn from bad honing - uneven wear, tapering of the blade, 1/16"+ hone wear marks on the spine (or is that the shoulder?)

What would you expect to pay for a Heljestrand frameback with horn scales (chipped but useable, if I'm not mistaken) that was stamped 1866 on the tang, and was pretty well worn down?

Great question Matt. It sounds like an interesting blade you've got there. My guess is that there are no manufacturers that produce replacement blades but I'll bet you can find some folks who can fabricate a replacement for you. There's a guy from the UK (Ralfy's Handmades is his handle) who has made his own framebacks. In fact he posted a picture of one of his new ones on FB about 6 hours ago...you might try to find it...perhaps he could help you out.

I would say if your blade has a notch at the front of it..right above it..that would tell me it was part of a set or had "replacement blades"..top of the blade which would have a notch that would be pulled and blade would be replaced...got any pics to see?

Matt,

Many framebacks had a screw right in the nose of the razor to retain the blade. Lacking that, I assume that the blade could have been silver soldered (hard solder) in.
As far as replacement blades go, if available I'd say they would be as rare as hen's teeth.
Ralfy has produced a few framebacks for himself. He's a great guy, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if he would try to accommodate. His home board is coticule.be..

It was definitely a true frameback, not a "faux frameback." Although this is not my pic and not the specific razor I'm talking about, I found this pic in a google search and it is essentially the same razor I saw. I can tell you that after seeing this pic, and many others, that what I thought was bad wear (the tapering from the toe to the heel) is apparently normal in framebacks. I may be making a visit back then, as there were several framebacks there. Also, there was an Eksilstuna, which I just realized was a Heljestrand. They were a bit pricey though, and I'm not quite sure what I should expect to be paying from an antique store. Quite honestly, I'm a cheapskate and don't like to pay more than $25 for an antique store straight razor - but that's for a "generic" circa 1920's-1930's celluloid, bakelite, or plastic scaled 5/8ths hollow ground.

If the blade could be swapped for an exact insert..there would be a tiny "notch" on the steel back that holds the razor from the top (edge from the top tIp)

(11-27-2011 10:14 PM)jrcrow Wrote:  If the blade could be swapped for an exact insert..there would be a tiny "notch" on the steel back that holds the razor from the top (edge from the top tIp)

You know what, now that you mention it I notice the toe is a little bit different than the one I saw. I was more focused on the heel/tang area of the blade. The toe of the one I saw was maybe a little more like the one below. It definitely looked as if a blade could be inserted and slid into place. I'll try to get back this week to double check and maybe get some pics.

Everyone seems to be avoiding my price question, though...

Also, in searching pics, I noticed that the Eksilstuna name appears under the Heljestrand name on the tang. The blade I saw didn't have the Eksilstuna name on it at all, I don't think.

Here is what I meant...look at that notch top of where the razor sits under...that tip is pulled out where the blade pops out and can be replaced..I saw once..and once only a 4 day set with changeable blades and 1 handle for all of em to be used..sold over $300usd

Eksilstuna, Sweden=Razor of origin

Heljestrands was a Swedish knife manufacturing company from Eskilstuna. The company was founded in 1808 by Olof Heljestrand (1781-1837). After his death in 1837, the firm was taken over by his first son Nils Fredrik (1808-1868) and subsequently by his son Carl Viktor (1819-1861), I think this is where the name C.V. comes from. The company was run by descendants until 1980 when produciton, and the company, ceased. Besides razors, knives, cork screws, nail pliers and scissors was produced.

Thanks for the information. I didn't realize that Eksilstuna was the city name, I thought it had something to do with the company name. I'll have to get back out to that store sometime in the near future, some of the razors definitely need a second look. The prices are shying me away, though, especially for razors that will need considerable work to get in usable/shave-ready condition.

I would say in the past year or so they have gone up in price...but in better condition with a majority of them as I have seen many...I prefer the original ones vs the non frameback ones..more "cool" lookin!