Post by spidey9 on Feb 29, 2016 0:01:03 GMT -6
One of my recent acquisitions is this Rapide razor from Germany (by way of France).
There is not a lot of information available on the Rapide. From what I've been able to piece together the original Rapide was produced by Ernst Scharff in Germany in the 1890's. When Scharff's patent expired in 1911 several manufacturers, most notably Henkels, produced razors of the same design.
My razor is a bit of a mystery. It was advertised as a Scharff Rapide, and the design of the handle is consistent with that.
However, other Scharff Rapides that I have seen have "Ernst Scharff / Frankfort A.M. / Germany / Rapide" stamped on the handle. Mine looks like this:
Those are the only stampings on the handle: "E.S.F" and "PAT. 64903". The patent number is that of the original 1891 Scharff German patent. The "E.S.F" is a complete mystery. To further muddle the picture, all of the writing on the box is in English.
I'm thinking that it is either one of the first knock-off razors or (less likely) a very early Sharff model.
One thing is certain: Whatever its origin, with a properly honed blade it is one fine shaver. I've been enjoying some incredibly close, smooth shaves.
Another interesting detail on this Rapide is that like the earliest Kampfe Bros. razors it has no blade stops. There are a couple of score marks for reference, and the blade holders on the sides have adjustment setscrews. There is a notch in the end of the stropping handle for adjusting these setscrews (also like the Kampfe).
While the purpose of this was to compensate for blade shrinkage after repeated honing, it also has the effect of making the razor adjustable - the position of the blade edge in respect to the comb can be varied. I'm not sure how much effect this actually has, since with the proper shaving angle the comb does not contact the face at all, serving only to guide the lather away.
The lack of blade stops also means that unlike with later Rapides, modern SE blades cannot be used. This is irrelevant to me - this razor just sparkles with a good wedge blade, but it might be important to some.
Comparisons with the C. V. Heljestrand are inevitable.
The differences are striking. The Rapide weighs in at 1.8 oz with a blade installed, the CVH is much heavier at 3.1 oz. The CVH feels very solid in the hand; the Rapide is much more agile.
If razors were cars, the Heljestrand would be a luxury sedan (a Volvo?) while the Rapide would be a sports car (perhaps a BMW Z3).
It is fascinating to me that the two razors can be so completely different and yet both provide an incredible shaving experience.
How fascinating? I already have anothe Scharff Rapide, a Henkels and a C. V. Heljestrand 7 day set on the way.
More to follow.
--Bob
There is not a lot of information available on the Rapide. From what I've been able to piece together the original Rapide was produced by Ernst Scharff in Germany in the 1890's. When Scharff's patent expired in 1911 several manufacturers, most notably Henkels, produced razors of the same design.
My razor is a bit of a mystery. It was advertised as a Scharff Rapide, and the design of the handle is consistent with that.
However, other Scharff Rapides that I have seen have "Ernst Scharff / Frankfort A.M. / Germany / Rapide" stamped on the handle. Mine looks like this:
Those are the only stampings on the handle: "E.S.F" and "PAT. 64903". The patent number is that of the original 1891 Scharff German patent. The "E.S.F" is a complete mystery. To further muddle the picture, all of the writing on the box is in English.
I'm thinking that it is either one of the first knock-off razors or (less likely) a very early Sharff model.
One thing is certain: Whatever its origin, with a properly honed blade it is one fine shaver. I've been enjoying some incredibly close, smooth shaves.
Another interesting detail on this Rapide is that like the earliest Kampfe Bros. razors it has no blade stops. There are a couple of score marks for reference, and the blade holders on the sides have adjustment setscrews. There is a notch in the end of the stropping handle for adjusting these setscrews (also like the Kampfe).
While the purpose of this was to compensate for blade shrinkage after repeated honing, it also has the effect of making the razor adjustable - the position of the blade edge in respect to the comb can be varied. I'm not sure how much effect this actually has, since with the proper shaving angle the comb does not contact the face at all, serving only to guide the lather away.
The lack of blade stops also means that unlike with later Rapides, modern SE blades cannot be used. This is irrelevant to me - this razor just sparkles with a good wedge blade, but it might be important to some.
Comparisons with the C. V. Heljestrand are inevitable.
The differences are striking. The Rapide weighs in at 1.8 oz with a blade installed, the CVH is much heavier at 3.1 oz. The CVH feels very solid in the hand; the Rapide is much more agile.
If razors were cars, the Heljestrand would be a luxury sedan (a Volvo?) while the Rapide would be a sports car (perhaps a BMW Z3).
It is fascinating to me that the two razors can be so completely different and yet both provide an incredible shaving experience.
How fascinating? I already have anothe Scharff Rapide, a Henkels and a C. V. Heljestrand 7 day set on the way.
More to follow.
--Bob