Thread: Hey folks!

Hey guys! My name is Josh, and I'm a knifemaker from Maryland!

I started on my first knife when I was 15, I made it from a file that my great grandfather used in the steel mill before retiring with 35 years under his belt. Needless to say, it was absolutely atrocious looking, and I later messed it up beyond repair. After making and selling a few blades to friends and family, I picked up a 2x48 Kalamazoo grinder and some bar steel and the rest is history.

Almost a year ago, I went to an estate sale that caught my eye because of the massive amount of machinery that the deceased gentleman possessed, and just as I was about to leave, I spotted three straight razors for sale. A William Bocking(anyone have info?), a Keen Kutter, and a third one that I didn't open because of the rust. I thought that it was too forgone.I payed the nice lady $15 for the Bocking razor, and was out the door otherwise empty-handed.

Since getting a steady income (I'm only 18), RAD has really nipped me in the rear, and the lovely people here are only making matters worse! I buy razors to restore/refurbish, hone and use. It's easily been the most expensive hobby of my life, but also been the most rewarding. Nothing feels better than taking a turn of the century W&B from gross and grimy to shiny and sharp.

An intro wouldn't be an intro without some pics, so here goes.. My first "restoration".

It's a mid-20th cent Genco razor that I got for $3.00 at an antique store.



Blade was chipped as you can see, and the scales had started to off-gas, so I unpinned them and ground the blade down.

A few hours of work.. Annnnnd...





A pretty sporty little "chopped" razor.

Still has some stain spots from the rust that I need to buff out, and the edge is near butter knifed, but I'll have her shaving lickity-split!



Thanks for looking, and I hope to be more active!