Thread: W.Greaves & Sons restoration

I shouldn't really call this a restoration because it has been re fashioned not restored .
(Everything was done by hand apart from Dremeling a rough outline of the scales )

Bought this blade without realising the extent of the pitting .

I took most of the pitting out and made the scales from honey horn. This piece of horn has a kind of white layer which doesn't show up in the photos but it is eye catching.

The horn was a nightmare (in a bubble car) to work with . I don't know if the animal was sickly or something but parts kept on popping up from the horn which left deep gauges , which in turn meant more sanding, warping etc.
After they were fashioned I lay them in neat's foot oil for a few days. Finished them up to 3k glass paper and bees wax

The wedge is honey horn with Aluminium . Solid Nickel collars with brass pins.

Getting the blade to centre was also a joke, it took 3 washers on one side and a sanding down of a scale.

Even honing it was painful haha .
Sanding so close to the edge took its toll on the geometry.

Last night I had a shave with it, very keen but not buttery smooth, probably because I finished on water imo.

The main thing is that I painfully learnt many lessons . For one I will start to leave deep pitting alone

Looks mighty good from here, and learning lessons is how we progress.

A brave soul to work with a blade that rough. A prime candidate for regrinding IMHO. I like the lined wedge. Nice fit and finish. Your pins are too long. Cut them shorter next time and the ends will not split. Honey horn can be difficult to work with as you found out but if you get a good piece they make some beautiful scales. Some pieces seems to peel like an onion or fine fibers pull out as you sand. Sometimes I just give up and start with a new piece of horn. Why the wave in the scales?

Looks Good To Me But Feel Free To Name That Razor Pain In The Arse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ty

Originally Posted by karlej

A brave soul to work with a blade that rough. A prime candidate for regrinding IMHO. I like the lined wedge. Nice fit and finish. Your pins are too long. Cut them shorter next time and the ends will not split. Honey horn can be difficult to work with as you found out but if you get a good piece they make some beautiful scales. Some pieces seems to peel like an onion or fine fibers pull out as you sand. Sometimes I just give up and start with a new piece of horn. Why the wave in the scales?

The pins didn't split?
The wave in the scales is their because I don't want to copy everyone els, I prefer an original approach .
It accentuates the name on the tang and the up curve by the tang pins creates a curve that fits around the finger when in hand shaving. So instead of just holding in a straight razor it feels like it fits in the hand.
Love your work by the way

In the 2nd photo the pin at the wedge seems to mushroomed over and ragged around the edges which is caused by the pin being overly long. I saved the photo and blew it up for a closer look before I made my comment. Could just be the photography and my poor old eyes. If it is not so please disregard my comment. Just trying to help. I tend to be very traditional with my Sheffields. Interesting thought as to the wave fitting your fingers when held for shaving and I can see how the curve follows the tang shape. Nice job.

Originally Posted by karlej

In the 2nd photo the pin at the wedge seems to mushroomed over and ragged around the edges which is caused by the pin being overly long. I saved the photo and blew it up for a closer look before I made my comment. Could just be the photography and my poor old eyes. If it is not so please disregard my comment. Just trying to help. I tend to be very traditional with my Sheffields. Interesting thought as to the wave fitting your fingers when held for shaving and I can see how the curve follows the tang shape. Nice job.

I think that's a trick of light and my poor photo skills..

I normally try to leave the pins long and really mushroom them over , tapping more on the very edge of the pin to leave a bulbous , protruding pin head . I'm not a fan of the flat type pinning.
The only time I have had pins split is when I didn't file the top down flat.

In saying all that I am still quite new to this and have restored probably 10 or more blades.

At the moment my thoughts are going towards getting a satin finish by hand and using a method other than bringing it to a mirror shine and then roughing it up with fine paper..
Any tips would be welcome..
Cheers

I like the shape. I need to look at this again when not looking on a phone screen. Nice job

Wow, excellent job bringing that pitted beast back! I do like the unusual scale pattern that follows the humpbacked contour of the tang.

Considering the pitting that you had to deal with, wou did an absolutely awesome job with the blade.
The aluminum liners at the wedge are a very classy touch.
Beautiful work!

Pete <:-}