Rescue 911!: 8/8 GONG Razor in Walnut

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12-23-2009, 09:49 PM
BKratchmer

Rescue 911!: 8/8 GONG Razor in Walnut

This is a sad story with a happy ending.

Last May a friend of mine picked up a gorgeous GONG razor at an antique shop. For those of you who have handled one of these you know that they are hefty but paper-thin razors. There's a lot of metal under the spine, but the edge is ground very very hollow.

SO they're fragile. Like a communion wafter taped to a bullet.

Not having equipment myself to hone it, I gave him the names of a few guys here who could. I warned him not to take it to the local knife guy...

...most of us, my friend included, take a razor to the knife guy. He evidently stropped it a little, proclaimed it sharp, and went to town on a piece of hard maple with it. You can imagine what happened.

My friend agreed to let me try reshaping a blade, since it was ruined otherwise. I ground, and ground, and tinkered.... and lost not a millimeter more cutting surface than was past the crack. A lot of hand sanding and tumbling later, and a fine hand-rubbed set of walnut scales (8 coats of Tung oil) and this is what came out.

Merry Christmas, Spencer. (If you break another one, though, I'll kill ya!)

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...-122309002.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...-122309003.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...-122309004.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...-122309007.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...-122309008.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...-122309009.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...-122309011.jpg
12-24-2009, 02:55 AM
StumpyMC

Rebuttal

Hey now, I will attest to your claims good sir. I took it to him for questions about sharpening and honing, I never asked him to hone it for me. It was a quite horrific experience I must say, but it is now a piece of functional art. Thank you!
12-24-2009, 03:02 AM
Allen

The scales match the blade perfectly. Great job! :)
12-24-2009, 03:55 AM
BKratchmer

Licensious

Quote:

Originally Posted by StumpyMC

Hey now, I will attest to your claims good sir. I took it to him for questions about sharpening and honing, I never asked him to hone it for me. It was a quite horrific experience I must say, but it is now a piece of functional art. Thank you!

I took some literary license. :) And you're welcome!
12-24-2009, 03:57 AM
BKratchmer

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allen

The scales match the blade perfectly. Great job! :)

Thanks! I was trying for something that would be sleek and modern, but with kind of classical lines. Glad I matched them up!
12-24-2009, 04:34 AM
Muirtach

The lines on those scales bring to mind a viking ship. very interesting design. And walnut might just be my second favorite wood after yew.
12-24-2009, 05:08 AM
shutterbug

Beautiful save! Well done Sir.
12-24-2009, 09:07 AM
ndw76

You gave that razor a wicked point. I love it.
12-24-2009, 03:26 PM
cyclelu

Well done! That is a beautiful work of art.
:beer2:
12-24-2009, 03:38 PM
hi_bud_gl

wow i can't believe you are doing restoration already. Great work and very nice unique handles.
I would say sharp edge of the wood is a little discomfort? May this help or opposite.
GL
12-24-2009, 09:47 PM
spazola

That is an amazing looking point. You did a great job of making the most out of that blade. The whole razor goes together well, the scales go with the blade.

You need to name that type of point.

Charlie
12-26-2009, 05:22 AM
onimaru55

That might have to be known as the 'BKratchmer point' :D

Nice! Artistic save & love the oil finish. Any one that's comfortable using a kamisori would not find that blade too short at all.
12-31-2009, 11:06 PM
StumpyMC

Beautiful!!!

Dear Sir, I received this beautiful razor today, and I couldn't be happier. It is absolutely gorgeous, and once honed, will be a wonderful shaver. Thank you!!!