Thread: Hollow Ground Clover Brand in see through scales.

This one has been sitting in my to-do drawer for some time, the other day I decided to give it the once over.

Vital statistics
Manufacturer: W.H. Morley & Sons (Germany).
Model: Clover Brand (barbers notch)
Size: 9/16th
Point: Barbers Notch
Grind: Double grind ½ hollow (jimps on bottom of tang).
Finish: Brushed steel with “Hollow Ground” etch, polished tang, tail and spine.
Spine: Straight with slight arch (bump back tang)
Edge: Smile (follows the spine)
Bearings: (New) Brass
Pins: (New) solid brass
Scales: 2 pin, transparent Polycarbonate with Smoked Acrylic wedge

The etch is deep so clean up was without fuss, it only had some patina and gunk, polished up nicely. She still has a few tiny “freckles” on the rear face but decided leave them alone for fear of getting the blade too thin.
The original scales were old and brittle, but I like this blade so I made from the only material I have… Transparent Lexan Polycarbonate.

Just a quick tutorial of how I do it.
Draw the outline of the scales and rough-cut with a hacksaw, glue the two halves together (don’t remove the protective covering, put the glue on the covering and stick both halves together, then remove the covering from the outside), shape and finish the outside scales with progressively finer w/d sandpaper, then polish with semichrome. When ready to pin the blade I peel off the scales from each other and leave the protective covering still glued together, that way the inside scales will still have the factory smooth finish…
This only sounds easy, I lift my hat to those who do this often… with any material.

As you can see in one of the photos these scales are thin… and flexible (almost too flexible), the scales may be twisted up to 45 degrees without breakage or permanent deformation. However this has its downside, the edge can easily contact the scales if not closed carefully (thank goodness the blade centers perfectly).

BTW the shave was simply amazing; I cannot feel the edge cutting my whiskers, even going against the grain, there is almost no feedback. Unusual for a hollow ground on my weird beard… gives me the shivers… this is one of the few razors that cuts those whiskers below my jaw in one pass…
“Watch out smooth shaving heavy wedges, there is a new edge in town”.

Just a beauty! Excellent restoration. Thank you very much for posting the pictures and sharing that. Wow.

Chris L

awesome! love it

That razor turned out very nice. Those scales are very unique and attractive as well.

It's so simple! It has a purity to it that intrigues me! You did an awesome job!

Nice job man. Even the scales look shave ready.

It's great when after all the work you end up with a super shaver.

Really sharp !!!

Nice CLEAN look and the finnish on the scales, like the edges, are so smooth.

excellent work... congrats !