Thread: W. Greaves & Son Goes back On The Line.

Here is a W.Greaves & Son that I picked up in an Antique shop this afternoon. I thought in the beginning that the scales were wood, I even looked close. So I decided to work on it today.

I used EZ-Off on the wood to pull out any oils or crap from over the years. I’ve had good success on old rifle stocks in the past. I washed of the EZ Off and the scales smelled like a dead animal. I used dish soap & 0000 Steel wool to clean them off. The smell did pretty much go away after the cleaning.

This is what was left after the cleaning. I have no idea what the heck kind of scales these are. They have horizontal ridges that go from the heal to the toe. Here’s the strange part, no matter how much I sand, the ridges remain, yes, material gets removed as expected, but the ridges don’t go away , nor do they seem to be effected by the sanding.

I am hoping you guys can tell me what type of scales I have.The scales & pins appear to be original & the wedge is lead.
I honed it & will test it in the morning; frankly I think it will fail. This is a razor that I will display, until I revisit it again, after I get more time on the hones.
Thanks for your time.

The after cleaning photos:

actual tortoise perhaps ?? of course im guessing and have no knowledge though , just a guess so no laughing .. lol

but very fine job on the clean up !!! i wish half of mine came out that clean ...man thats nice !!

Thanks Gooser, I don't know what tortoise shell actually looks like, other that the nasty looking one that crawl out of the swamp or the nice looking little box turtles.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

Thanks Gooser, I don't know what tortoise shell actually looks like, other that the nasty looking one that crawl out of the swamp or the nice looking little box turtles.

i dont either but after cleaned up it looked like some of the imitation tortoise scales ive saw on new razors ..lol.. or perhaps a type of horn ?? we will see later when more folks are awake ... lol..i do know that if i keep seeing these styles of blades im gonna have to start getting some cause the more i see the more i want ... !!

Amazing transformation, well done, i would have thought horn, which has its own distinct smell,no knowledge of tortoise shell, but either way, a very nice end result. I bet it shaves like a champ once you sort it.

Lovely Razor. Spanish point to Awesome find.

I'm 95% certain that you have some authentic tortoise shell scales there, friend

Looks like the combs my grandmother had of turtle shell! Very nice! Get her shaving! Double O

From: http://reviews.ebay.com/TORTOISESHEL...00000012067858

Care of turtle shell.

Avoid storing tortoiseshell in conditions of excessive heat, humidity or dryness. Turtle shell objects should not be exposed to direct sunlight for any extended period as this can cause them to take on an unattractive greyish hue as the surface moisture dries out.

Turtle shell objects should not be immersed in water, as this will remove the polish. Placing the item in hot water will leave the surface looking dull and pitted and the polish can only be restored by re-buffing. Dirt and finger marks can usually be removed by a simple wipe over with a damp cloth and then a careful polish and dry.

Another hazard for shell combs and those in other materials is the residue left from sticky labels. This can be removed with a small amount of white spirit (turpentine) or piece of impregnated wadding which are sold for cleaning metal jewellery. Following removal the area should be carefully cleaned and polished.

Cleaning with any kind of alcohol or spirit (such as methylated spirits or methanol) should be avoided as this tends to draw the natural oils from the surface and leave it dull and lustreless. The use of aerosol polishes containing silicone should also be avoided as these are not suitable for turtle shell. A light wax such as beeswax is suitable for preserving the shine of shell combs.

Shell combs are often discovered in a dull and scuffed condition. Some conservators recommend soaking in light vegetable oil to restore the natural moisture of objects whose surface has lost their lustre. This should be followed by a vigorous buffing with chamois leather or soft lint free. This will restore much of the surface shine and help to disguise light scratches. However deep scratches or nicks will always be visible when the polished surface is held in a certain light.

Enjoy Double O