Thread: 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!)

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!

The scales match the blade perfectly. Great job!

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!

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!

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.

Beautiful save! Well done Sir.

You gave that razor a wicked point. I love it.

Well done! That is a beautiful work of art.

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