C Congreve 9/8

I happened upon this huge blade which was obviously rescaled in Bakelite. Being on an oldie kick these days, I researched it as best I could and started a thread in the razors forum, here: http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...ted-steel.html
I was set straight about it by Mr. Neil Miller (Thanks, Neil!) and some levity ensued! (er..Thanks Wullie!)
I decided to try and keep it as close to period as possible and shave with it, so I used these donor scales and collars from an old Echo razor with bad pitting. While the front side of the blade was nearly perfect, the back side had some pitting. I hand sanded until I felt enough was enough. The pinning job was a real nightmare as the tang was way off from the spine. Twisted and off-camber. Magnified considerably by the big blade!
Several attempts with grinding here and there and adding/subtracting spacers were needed until it finally closed center. The problems ended there as it honed up with beautiful feedback on the stones and a tiny, even bevel using only one layer of tape.
It turned out quite authentic, I feel. My first shave with it will be my Sunday SOTD! :D It will also be a nice birthday present as to-morrow is mine!
Thanks,
Tom




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It looks new, very nice.

I like it, it looks period correct to me. The scales and washers look like they belong on the blade. That is a razor with a capital R, it is a chunk of steel.

Charlie

Great looking razor! My bet is you get a great shave as well.

nice job, looks much better in those scales, well done.

Beautiful tom, just beautiful!

Regards,
Neil

Great work. That is a serious straight razor. Happy Birthday and I hope you enjoy many good shaves with her.

Nice! Definitely a great way to start a birthday - have great one.

That is a beast of a razor! Let us know how the shave goes. Nice work.

Good work, I'm liking your big Momma blade.

Jamie

Beautiful ole beast youve got there. I really like what you did with the pinning to bring it even more to its era. Nice work.

That really is lovely...
What is the weight of the ol' gal?

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Originally Posted by ryanjewell

That really is lovely...
What is the weight of the ol' gal?

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Thanks! I hung it from 2 different gram scales and they concur at about 75 grams!

Well 'APPY BARFDAY TOM!

(overcompensating again? LOL)

Light the fuze on that baby and hope it doesn't fly out the window and blow up Ft McHenry!

BEAUTIFUL job on that darlin'!!

Looks great, top notch work!

Love the beefy tang! Looks great!

I remember back when I was young my dad used to take me to a barbershop on Congress Ave in
Austin. I used to sit back in the old leather chairs with my own pitcher of lemonade. See back then they would serve us young kids lemonade while the grown folk would get their hair cut and talk about the war and what not. It was a different time ya see. Congress Ave was only 2 blocks long cutting between Monroe and Annie. I remember my pappy leaning back and getting and shave with a razor similar to that one right there. The sweet smell of jasmine and pine rushed the front porch of that old shop and you could get a whiff of my Aunt Cindy's peach pie sitting right underneath the barber's chair. She used to use old hair clippings to season the pie just right before taking it to market. We used to walk for miles sometimes to the market. Those were the good ol' days Truman, Teddy Roosevelt, Nixon...those were real heros. I remember Nixon coming into Austin. Everyone was hootin and hollerin' and he come into the shop to get a trim and a shave. I think it was his birthday. And he sat on down in the chair and leaned back and got and shave with a razor similar to that one right there. Milk was about 5 cents back then and I remember the president. Jimmy was what we called 'em. Jimmy had asked for a cold glass of milk so by the time I came back from the market The President had left cause it was the next day. We didn't have cars back then, so I drank the milk myself and sat up in the barbers chair and noticed that I had aged dramatically since I had left to go get the glass of milk for Nixon and I remember leaning back with a face full of angelic whiskers. The barber put the hot towel on my face and i remember the razor he had. I was a 9/8 Concord Condor just like this one here. and it made a hawk like sound when you opened it and the closer it came to your face you would swear that you felt 1,000 feathers flap against your face. And the barber was holding my skin taught as I leaned back in the chair. That big ol' 9/8ths staring back at me as he turned my face to the side for the first pass and then..................

AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

and then I realized that it was just a bad dream cause I haven't had my first shave yet but when I do I'll be in Texas leaning back getting a shave with a razor similar to that one right there.

Great Piece

Happy Birthday buddy!

First shave in Texas?

Hey Tom, should we send him to Boystown for his first cuttin' too? :rofl2:

Ha! Cheetah, Come on down! I will sit you in an old Koken chair and lean you back and slap a hot towel on your mug.
The stropping will be performed within a foot of your head as the towel does it's work. A nice mug of warm Poraso shall be prepped and stirred with a vintage Weyer brush. A great application of lather will ensue, covered with another steaming towel. I will tell you a few short jokes and then whip the towel off and replentish the lather. My left thumb and forefinger will stretch your pretty face and I shall shave your young face most excellent and complete, including the back of your neck and around the ears. Nice smack of old Pinuad Clubman when done! Clean as a pin!
All with a razor just like this one! In fact, This Very Razor!
Thanks Buddy,
Tom

Very nice restore Tom. What a beast.
Hope you get some wonderful use out of her
Darl,

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Originally Posted by Tarkus

Very nice restore Tom. What a beast.
Hope you get some wonderful use out of her
Darl,

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tarkus

Very nice restore Tom. What a beast.
Hope you get some wonderful use out of her
Darl,

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Well, Thank You twice, Darl. I appreciate everyone's Thanks, Likes, And comments! A lot of work, but well worth it! The Beast shaves GREAT!
Tom

This razor just look incredible to me, the blade looks better then new, and the whole ensemble of blade scales and pins, look authentic. Enjoy!

Beauty and the Beast all together in one package!! As always, very nice workmanship and a unique blade. Well worth following your posts just to see what you will come up with next.