Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 13
Like Tree37Likes

Thread: Wade & Butcher Cleanup

  1. #1
    All proper tea is good. nightcap's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Colorado
    Posts
    39
    Thanked: 38

    Default Wade & Butcher Cleanup

    This is a razor I happened upon in an antique shop this summer. It is a Wade and Butcher 8/8 with dyed horn scales. I believe that it is in original condition. I am new to restoring razors, but decided to put some work into this one. It really was in surprising shape for an antique store find. I have not seen another razor in the same configuration, I would be interested if anyone has anymore information.

    Name:  image.jpg
Views: 338
Size:  55.2 KB

    Following advice I found here I removed the scales and soaked them in neatsfoot oil, followed by light sanding. I then cleaned up the blade with 800-2000 grit wet/dry sanding paper. Finally, I re-peened the scales using a washer inside as a bearing surface and a single washer on the outside.

    This is my second attempt at peening. Following a tip here I sanded the ends of the cutoff pins and slightly rounded the edges before peening, which helped immensely in producing a smooth finish.

    Name:  image.jpg
Views: 338
Size:  71.4 KB

    Name:  image.jpg
Views: 331
Size:  76.4 KB

    Name:  image.jpg
Views: 332
Size:  76.5 KB

    I just finished honing the blade and look forward to shaving with it tomorrow morning.
    baldy, Geezer, Wullie and 16 others like this.
    -Michael

  2. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to nightcap For This Useful Post:

    Euclid440 (01-30-2017), tinkersd (02-10-2017)

  3. #2
    Senior Member MattCB's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Kitsap County, WA USA
    Posts
    1,549
    Thanked: 351

    Default

    Well done and a beautiful razor!
    RezDog likes this.
    The older I get the more I realize how little I actually know.

  4. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2015
    Posts
    695
    Thanked: 77

    Default

    I really like the scales! Beautiful razor!!

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

  5. #4
    'with that said' cudarunner's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Walla Walla in WA State USA
    Posts
    11,151
    Thanked: 4230

    Default

    Nice work! Congratulations on bringing the scales back to life without them breaking :

    I hope Martin can chime in as he's quite knowledgeable about the W&B razors (among others).

    I would ask if the blade holds open at all positions, especially the 3/4 to fully open as these heavy blades make a rather nice miniature Guillotine for fingers

    What are your plans for bringing it to shave ready? (honing) Just wondering
    Our house is as Neil left it- an Aladdin’s cave of 'stuff'.

    Kim X

  6. #5
    Giveaway Guy Dieseld's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    Reading MI
    Posts
    4,784
    Thanked: 1586

    Default

    Great job on that! I really like the scales as well.
    W&B are my favorite razors, awesome save
    Look sharp and smell nice for the ladies.~~~Benz
    Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring ― Marilyn Monroe

  7. #6
    Senior Member Porl's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Posts
    688
    Thanked: 123

    Default

    Very nice razor and well done on the cleanup.

    I keep looking around the antique shops but am yet to find anything interesting I am quite jealous. I would really like to add a Wade and Butcher to my collection and have yet to even see one in the flesh.

    Let us know how the first shave goes.
    Fact: Opinions are not the same as facts... Well, that's my opinion anyway

  8. #7
    All proper tea is good. nightcap's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Colorado
    Posts
    39
    Thanked: 38

    Default

    Thank you for the kind words everyone.


    Quote Originally Posted by cudarunner View Post
    Nice work! Congratulations on bringing the scales back to life without them breaking :

    I hope Martin can chime in as he's quite knowledgeable about the W&B razors (among others).

    I would ask if the blade holds open at all positions, especially the 3/4 to fully open as these heavy blades make a rather nice miniature Guillotine for fingers

    What are your plans for bringing it to shave ready? (honing) Just wondering
    I would be interested in learning more about the razor. I believe that it was made before 1890, but do not know much more than that.

    It opens smoothly and begins to tighten at about a quarter and is tight with the scales straight with the blade and all the way open, (in standard shaving position). I decided not to tighten past that point so as to not overly stress the old horn.

    I honed the razor myself last night. I had done this previously, but the edge required touch up after the work. I currently use lapping film for honing, (finishing on 0.5 um). Based upon my opinion and loupe this produces good results. However, I would like to switch to stones, I currently own 1K 6K stones and need to round out my progression.
    -Michael

  9. #8
    All proper tea is good. nightcap's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Colorado
    Posts
    39
    Thanked: 38

    Default

    I have included a close up photograph of the tang markings below.

    Name:  image.jpg
Views: 295
Size:  46.1 KB
    -Michael

  10. #9
    All proper tea is good. nightcap's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Colorado
    Posts
    39
    Thanked: 38

    Default

    This morning I shaved with the razor, which produced superb results. The 8/8 blade is heavier than I am used to, but the hollow grind easily cuts through facial hair. I am very pleased with the razor and plan on using it exclusively for some time in order become better acquainted with it.

  11. #10
    Historically Inquisitive Martin103's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Upstate New York
    Posts
    5,780
    Thanked: 4249
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    Nightcap, Welcome to SRP, you did a fine job on this razor its quite lovely. Its really not a common Wade & Butcher it doesn't have a "For Barber Use" stamp as most 8/8 have, no barbers notch, it does have a deep thump notch, its hollow ground, even more the stained horn scales are not common on these.
    From what I see I'm almost certain that this razor was re-ground at some point, a common practice to take a wedge and turn into a hollow ground razor. That razor is definitely much older then 1890, I would date it more like 1850-1860. Somebody took really good care of this blade, Enjoy it.

  12. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Martin103 For This Useful Post:

    nightcap (01-30-2017), tinkersd (02-10-2017)

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •