"The Real" with Real Gold Scales

This little Cattaraugs Cutlery, is etched "The Real" on the blade.

Gold Scales from real Gold flakes, mixed as slurry with System3 MirrorCoat on thin brass liners. Shapped and sanded to 12000, then polished some more.

Brass pins, no washers. The stars, that appear to be washers, are spacer beads to establish a solid footing to the brass liners. Bone wedge.

The blade being so small and light, with the heavy scale material it was some kind of crazy to get the balance, but came together fine.

I realized after taking the pics, I didn't take a completed shot next to something to show its scale. It's a cute, small blade. Suppose made for travel? I was honored to be asked to rescale this along with some others. I included a photo that I did take of pre-scaled image lined up next to those to get a feel for its tiny size.

If wanted, further images here

Attachment 67605
Attachment 67606
Attachment 67607
Attachment 67608
Attachment 67609

Absolutely sweet looking set of scales, and a real nice blade to go with them. Great job.

Your work is always so "polished" and looks like u take care and time into making beautiful scales, I always enjoy your restos :) GREAT JOB !

Awesome. That looks like a ton of work.

That's adorable, and I really like your creative use of spacer beads, they look great. Nicely done sir.

Amazing work! I like it, well done.

I love the scales, the false washers look great

As nice as your pictures are, they do not show the depth of color in the scales nor the attention to detail you obviously bestowed upon this little guy . Having been lucky enough to see these scales (this razor) in person, I must say .... well done D.C.!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Zomax

As nice as your pictures are, they do not show the depth of color in the scales nor the attention to detail you obviously bestowed upon this little guy . Having been lucky enough to see these scales (this razor) in person, I must say .... well done D.C.!

---

Thanks Z, (i had a great time meeting up with you) and everyone else for the kind words.

Originally wasnt going to post it since I showed one of same technique last year. After the owner received it, he shared with me that his wife also really likes it. When I heard a non-straight shaver enjoys holding it, that motivated me to post the pics.

Thanks again

Wow, I like everything about that razor. The scales the washers the finish on the blade. Those scales look terrific you do great work.

Charlie

Very unique and rich looking scale material. Nice work indeed :)

Amazing job, Walt! You have a gift to make things not seen(nor thought of) before. The pin treatment is a functional work of art. Imagine! Suspended gold scales!
Super nice, Indeed!

that looks awesome walt! Definitely like the bling!

These scales are great! Is system 3 a clearcoat for body work? I would love to use your idea on a Geo Korn razor I have. Actually, this company probably made your razor. Hard to say, but Little Valley, NY was the Capital of Cutlery at one time, and Korn made razors - stamped for other companies, all the time. Also, most of the companies' owners there were related by blood.
'The Real' Korn razor was my first, and only, for about twenty years- and is still in my rotation. It's little 2-5/16" blade did a great job.
Is dedicated, professional equipment, needed to use system 3 ?
Ed
quicknicker

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by quicknicker

...Is system 3 a clearcoat for body work? ...
Is dedicated, professional equipment, needed to use system 3 ?

---

The System3 MirrorCoat is a slow cure, self leveling epoxy resin commonly used for things like bar tops. No special tools, but as I learned from Cannonfodder among others, follow instructions. No real special equipment. You mix the two parts. I'll use short clear disposable cups, like the plastic tumbler cups you drink scotch from when at a pool party. Mixing sticks I use wooden skewers cause I like the almost whiping action you get from the thin stick. Make sure no splinters or saw dust on them

Best way to get equal parts is by weight on a scale, not volume; don't do a mixing cup and fill to a line. Instructions advise proportions.
Mix longer than you think required. Cant go wrong stiring for three minutes, even though seems done after one.
Pour in a room of 75'+. Cold weather, I'll run a space heater in second bathroom, leave all materials like acetone, resin, scales, etc in there the day before just to make sure all at same temperture.

As far as how to, this was the first I did in this gold process. Details are listed at that thread for technique highlights with some images.

Mostly I still use same process...but I do a few things different now. Like now I mix slurry on the scales vs in a cup. What I do now is pour clear on scales. Place gold leaf on epoxy resin, poke holes in foil but not so much on edges. Sprinkle gold flakes on resin, making slurry on scales. Also putting the spacer beads in during the application of slurry (on those scales at the link, after images done, re-did with drill out and putting washers as spacers, and re-finished)

Great stuff! Very imaginative, well executed.

Fantastic!!!

Very nicely done with lots of bling! :tu :tu This is a unique approach well executed with exquisite presentation. Keep them coming, I am looking forward to seeing more of your work.

Nice work DC! So you got a gold mine in your back yard or what:popcorn:...so how do I get my hands on some gold leaf ?:shrug:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dirtychrome

Originally wasnt going to post it since I showed one of same technique last year. After the owner received it, he shared with me that his wife also really likes it. When I heard a non-straight shaver enjoys holding it, that motivated me to post the pics.

Thanks again

---

I think I can speak for everyone when I say we always love to see pictures even if it is of a similar work you have posted before. And this one is a real stunner. If the owner wants to post a picture of it next to a regular size razor for sacral I for one would like to see it.

I'm usually not the biggest fan of bling like that, but you have made this work briliantly!
Well done, what a great piece of work!

Dirtychrome,
Thanks for the info. I definitely will have to give this a try. Looks too good not to try!
Ed
quicknicker

Thanks again to everyone for all the positive comments. Sometimes I do something new or odd because I like the idea. Comforting to see I'm not too crazy, and others enjoy it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sharpshavefun007

Nice work DC! So you got a gold mine in your back yard or what:popcorn:...so how do I get my hands on some gold leaf ?:shrug:

---

No just a printing press that makes money. I kid. Lol.

The gold leaf I only lay as a single sheet on top of the wet liners. Most any craft/art stores should have or online of course.

The majority of the gold is gold flakes. It doesn't require much, since suspended in the media. The edges of the scales get thin when shaping, so the brass liners may show through. This is why I do the gold leaf first, and flakes on top. The leaf gets torn in areas as it is worked with while wet. But helps to lessen brass showing through on the thin edges

Cost of materials is in line to that of the horn and other materials we all use. Just much more time since scale material needs to be "made" before shaping really starts.

Thanks again to everyone

Dirtychrome,
I will be giving it a try pretty soon. Thanks.
It will be a 'The Real", by Geo Korn.
Ed
quicknicker

Man, those scales are awesome and I love the pins! The whole piece just sort of pops out at you. Very nice work!

Very nicely done DC :nj...The scales rock as does the blade:rock:. Congratulations!!