Thread: U.S. Navy circa 1850-1860

A big heavy 8/8 Wostenholm wedge. I restored this some time ago but I made the wedge from lead. I wanted the blade deep into the scales so the wedge was very heavy which made the balance poor. I recently made up this faux ivory and brass wedge. The blade originally came to me with replacement white plastic scales that looked like something from the 1950's. The new scales are horn and my best guess at what they might have looked like. The vintage type brass collars just add to the look. Maas was all I used on the blade so as not to damage the etching. After this project was finished I found some articles on using a tumbler to clean up an etched blade. May give it a try on future etched blades. I usually shave with 6/8 hollow grinds so this razor provides a really novel shave.

Very nice job there. Pat yourself on the back.............

Originally Posted by mrsell63

Very nice job there. Pat yourself on the back.............

Boy, I'll say so. Has those Army razors beat too.

Bob

Very nice job on a nice looking razor

Only thing I can say wrong about it is that it isn't in my stash.

THAT is a beauty and yes I covet it.

The Old Salts agree that you did an excellent job.

Master Chief what was your rate? I see Maine and the mighty P-3 in your profile. I am Helo (AW) guy who worked at VX with lots of P-3/P-8 folks.


Beautiful razor!!!

Oh wow, wonderful razor! I entered the Navy as an E-2, spent two tours in Vietnam as a hospital corpsman, and left as an O-5 medical officer, hitting just about every rate/rank in between. Congratulations on doing a great restore on such an historic razor.

Well I didn't even know master chiefs had to shave. I just thought either their body evolved to be in regs or the salt just clogged up the follicles. That is a freaking sweet razor though. I wish I could have one like that. I would even wear my dixie when I shaved with it haha.

Originally Posted by karlej

After this project was finished I found some articles on using a tumbler to clean up an etched blade. May give it a try on future etched blades.

I once sent a Kissing Cranes with a beautiful etch on the blade but broken scales out for rescaling. The craftsman used a tumbler to 'clean up the blade' and when I got it back the etch was all but gone. If you hold it at a certain angle you can still make it out, but it is very faint now. Say this to say ...... if you're going to try a tumbler on an etched blade, do the first one or two with blades that are not important to you. I'm not sure if the aforementioned Kissing Cranes was an anomaly, or typical of tumblers and etched blades. Just a heads up in case it is.

I agree with Jimmy 100%.

If you're concerned about few spots on that razor, use a No 2 pencil point to scrub the dark spots. That will remove the corrosion and won't injure that frosted etch.