Thread: The "American Razor" from James Barlow & Sons

7/8 Scalloped spine full custom restore in Honey Buffalo Horn with all Brass accouterments



Attachment 107487

This razor has a solid Brass wedge, but it still, balances right to the tang...

Attachment 107486


Hi Glenn,
I know you wrote this thread in 2012, but I just found it because I recently bought a James Barlow with the original buffalo horn scales off eBay. (one of my almost daily razors now) It's about 11/16" after reshaping because I am one of those guys that has to have the edge follow the "line of the spline"! But the But my question about your beautiful craftsmanship is about the Brass wedge. Did you sand down the "built in" wedge that was part of the buffalo horn and then put the piece of brass in? Are those scales the almost 200 year old ones that Father & Sons made with the razor? Because they really are awesome looking. Mine are a little different as you can see in the picture of the eBay add on pg. 2. (I've since polished them up and they are translucent to a very high degree)
Did you put any kind of acrylic on the horn? I've had people tell me to oil the scales but I can't bring myself to do it. Instead I waxed them. After all almost 200 years and I don't think anyone has oiled them before?!?
So, I don't know, I'm not an expert.
Anyway, I know everyone has complimented that razor up one side & down the other, so one more won't make much difference. But I have to do it again anyway - That's really an awesome antique American razor, definitely in the top ten of the coolest, best razors in the world if I may be so bold!
Z

Z,

Those are custom made from Honey Buffalo Horn, the brass wedge is handmade from a solid brass bar that I take to a wedge shape on a belt sander then cut and polish to fit..
There is nothing on the Horn other then a bit of work polishing, it does take a bit of experience to get a high gloss polish on the horn but if you take your time it will look like a liquid finish..

Neetsfoot oil can be used on the old horn to re-condition it, I often soak them for a couple of days before working them again if I am doing a vintage restore. then I sand and re-polish them..

I think I got all your questions, let me know

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Z,

Those are custom made from Honey Buffalo Horn, the brass wedge is handmade from a solid brass bar that I take to a wedge shape on a belt sander then cut and polish to fit..
There is nothing on the Horn other then a bit of work polishing, it does take a bit of experience to get a high gloss polish on the horn but if you take your time it will look like a liquid finish..

Neetsfoot oil can be used on the old horn to re-condition it, I often soak them for a couple of days before working them again if I am doing a vintage restore. then I sand and re-polish them..

I think I got all your questions, let me know

Yes Glenn,
That answers everything, I like the brass idea. I also use a lot of brass in building telescopes & telescope parts from scratch,(one will soon be in Astronomy Technology Today magazine) even custom making brass screws, and I like the idea of incorporating brass work into razors, even toying with the idea of brass scales, or thin brass, layered with another material. The antique razor manufacturers only had natural materials to work with centuries ago, but often their scales are much more beautiful than our standard store bought razors when they used things like mother of pearl, horn & ivory. I have some teak which I took off an old junked boat which could be made into scales since teak isn't damaged by water, (at least for a long time)
As much as I've held back from putting oil on my antique horn scales because I wax them instead, which almost gives them a wet look, (almost) I might try your neatsfoot oil idea. Perhaps even oiling the horn and viewing changes under a microscope. Here is an interesting fact about sanding those old horn scales, (600 grit) I could smell the old horn. - 2 centuries later!

Love those scales!!!