Question on this one

So i came across this on the bay and was trying to figure out why it had no bids with only about a day left. I understood when i saw the second pic but i and still a little new with this so i wanted to ask. is this heat damage or scale rot?
Attachment 166090
if it is heat damage i am curious if the blade is at all salvageable. I will probably not be going for this one since i do think i have the tools it would likely take but i like to learn so i am putting it out there. here is a link to the listing for more/larger pics
Frederick Reynolds 13 16 Straight Razor Vintage Estate | eBay

I have that one in my watch list. It is a serious sows ear. It requires a lot of work. It is a total coin toss as to weather or not it will ever make it back to being a shaving razor, I haven't done enough hard core restores to be able to figure that out from the pictures. I have done enough to know until it is in my hands and I check the edge on the hones I will not know. These often go cheep because of the whole 50/50. It is a lot of work, or garbage.

P.S.

I think it is just rotten.

For that price, I would grab it and give it a bath in Evapo-Rust...it will remove all that rust and leave only the good steel, and also clean up the scales. Shaun is correct as well, I'd give it a bath and see if it will take an edge, but that's the chance you take for a potential big payoff.

All I can say, from my experience, I've had razor's covered with rust like that, and they've cleaned up beautifully, and for that price, really, you've got little to lose and only a beautiful razor to gain.

Evapo-Rust Rust Remover - Evapo-Rust Super Safe Rust Remover - Home » Evapo-Rust

my experience is that people wait till the last minute to bid anyway so don't get your hopes up that you'll be the only bidder. as for the razor it's worth a try if it's cheap enough.

I'm not sure if those scales are horn or celluloid. To my eye the rust/corrosion looks more like poor maintenance than cell rot. One way or another that black stuff will contain a lot of pitting and the portion near or at the bevel will begin to fall apart when you hone it. If the wedge is heavy enough you may get down to good steel without losing a lot but you'll lose some blade width chances are. I only look for three things in a vintage straight, condition, condition and condition, and that razor fails on all three of my criteria. :)

UAcowboy,
On the other hand, there are countless razors out there so why take a chance on this? My decision on acquiring this particular razor is easy: shrug and shuffle away.

There is always another one ( hundreds)

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Originally Posted by Obie

UAcowboy,
On the other hand, there are countless razors out there so why take a chance on this? My decision on acquiring this particular razor is easy: shrug and shuffle away.

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I would throw a bid on it with a value I wouldn't care loosing if it wasn't restorable, if someone out bid me, so be it, like Mike said there's hundreds more

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I'm not sure if those scales are horn or celluloid. To my eye the rust/corrosion looks more like poor maintenance than cell rot. One way or another that black stuff will contain a lot of pitting and the portion near or at the bevel will begin to fall apart when you hone it. If the wedge is heavy enough you may get down to good steel without losing a lot but you'll lose some blade width chances are. I only look for three things in a vintage straight, condition, condition and condition, and that razor fails on all three of my criteria. :)

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Well, IMO, if JimmyHAD says it's a no-go, I know personally, I would move on to another. And as Obie correctly points out, there are countless others, so continue the search.

One excellent thing you did though, was post here and get some advice from the other members here, not only did you learn what to start to look for, you saved yourself a lot of work and heartache, good on you!

Cheers!

If you are someone looking for a big project it might be a cause for you but for most I'd say pass. That rust looks severe.

Thanks everyone. I will be passing on this razor. I am mostly trying to find a larger blade. I have done a couple of 5/8 and i don't really enjoy shaving with them as much. I am a big guy and they just feel tiny and light. and i always seem to shave with to much pressure with them no matter how hard i try not to.

So once again Thanks!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by UAcowboy

Thanks everyone. I will be passing on this razor. I am mostly trying to find a larger blade. I have done a couple of 5/8 and i don't really enjoy shaving with them as much. I am a big guy and they just feel tiny and light. and i always seem to shave with to much pressure with them no matter how hard i try not to.

So once again Thanks!

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There are way easier tackles on eBay for not much more money. You should be able to pick up a restorable 6/8 or larger Sheffield for just a bit over $30. Keep your eye open!

I sold this razor. The scales were celluloid. They were completely mangled/destroyed. I have no idea if the razor was salvageable. I hope the buyer does well with it.

For future reference, Cell Rot is insidious and not worth taking a gamble on.

One of the tells is shrinkage, note the scales at the wedge were you can see how much the scales have shrunk (exposed wedge).

Cell rot even when it does not look too bad can destroy steel. Recently I was cleaning a cracked ice scalled razor that except for the blade turning completely black almost looked blued, was consumed with rot. The steel was so brittle when I put a razor blade on it to cut off a rust spot the blade cracked in the middle from the edge up about a ½ inch to the spine.

It was a very nice full hollow 7/8 blade, fortunately it was part of a group purchase so I did not have much invested.

As said if you suspect Cell Rot… pass, there are still many nice razors in the wild.

Yesterday, I picked up a nice, rust free 6/8 Carl Rader, early 1900’s in the original box for twenty bucks, at an antique store.

I just picked up a 3/4 Fredrick Reynolds pre 1890 on eBay for half of what that sold for. Be patient.