Pradier Paris, France

I posted a picture of this blade a few weeks ago looking for information. You folks were not only gracious enough to provide information on the maker but pictures of a 2 razor set with bone scales. All I had to start with was the blade and the pivot pin and its 2 collars. The collars were domed copper and the pin was steel. I turned down some copper washers and domed them on a dapping block to replicate the originals and used nickel silver pins. Scales are bone and copied from the picture. A difference in my blade is the location of the pivot pin hole in the tang. The 2 blade set had the hole located what looks like about 3/4" from the end of the tang. I finished the blade faces and tang with a matt finish and mirror on the back of the spine. The tang is very thin and tapers to .020 at the end.Attachment 198914Attachment 198915Attachment 198916Attachment 198917Attachment 198918

You did a very nice job. Great looking razor!

Yes, nicely done, congrats.

Bob

Wow, really nice job!

Cheers,

Really nice work on this blade...love the profile!

Gorgeous stub tail.
Great job on the pins and washers, nice contrasts.
:chapeau

That came out great!

Very nice and period correct for this top notch french maker from the 1820 1830 !

Beautiful job. Very attractive razor.

Great job.

That bone is about the whitest I have seen. Did you use a bleach or something else to get that color?

Thanks for sharing

Beautifully done!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rolodave

Great job.

That bone is about the whitest I have seen. Did you use a bleach or something else to get that color?

Thanks for sharing

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It's camel bone. The blanks were white as snow when I started but they picked up a little character when I buffed them.

This morning I shaved with this blade. The 3 pass shave was outstanding. I did find that with the tang so thin and no tail to speak of it felt awkward in my hand. I shave with both left and right hands. On the WTG stroke the weight of the scales, even at .100 thickness, tended to want to twist the blade in my hand. I found I had to concentrate on a relaxed but firm grip. Thank goodness it had top and bottom jimps. This was not an issue on the across and upward passes. So although the shave was A+ I found holding onto the razor was a bit odd. Other sub tails I have do present this challenge to grip.

Well, it's been stated above, Pradier was top notch at the time. There are few things as gorgeous for an old French razors lover as an ivory scaled Pradier with the shield on it :)

You did a very fine job there, very faithful, congratulations !

Well done on the restore. That is a piece anyone would be proud to own.

Well turned out, the handle looks great.

I haven't seen as many French razors. It turned out great. Is the short tang common to the razors made in France?

There is nothing "common" in circa 1820 French razors.

How could I convey it... The UK was far ahead in terms of cutlery, and well, French cutlers tried to be "on par", but it's most of the time... "awkward". I do love these old awkward French razoirs ( 3 beautiful ones so far), but, awkward anyways...

As good as they are and as beautiful as they may seem, these blades need a bit of experience... Even the best of them, I would lke you to trust me on that.But are well worth it :)

Everything old is new again. To think, I shaved with a French straight last night that was made around 100 years after the blade you've breathed life back into that doesn't look half as classy :P

Great looking restoration, congrats.

Nice job Karl, neat razor, great save.

That is a great looking razor, super clean restore Karl thanks for sharing.