13/16 "Tahan" razor with Ivory scales

I got this razor a couple weeks ago, and I have been wanting to try it out. This is the first really nice French razor I have had, well I assume it is French because it has that look :) Anyways, on to the pictures!

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Here it is, looks like it has seen better days...

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Yeah, that could be a problem :)

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The other side.

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A close up.

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Here it is after I finished. To be completely honest, I don't like how this picture came out (I have a painfully obsolete 2 megapixel camera) but I like this razor so I decided to post it anyways :) I ground out the chip and all of the nasty bits, until the steel was flat and smooth to the touch. As some of you might know I like to leave the dark patina in my razors as long as there is no rough steel to hold moisture and this razor was no exception. I ran it under the buffer with three compounds and it is nice and bright :)

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I love the near-wedge grind on this blade and I bet it will shave really well, I have only had good experiences with this type of grind.

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Notice how the much thicker point and spine taper way down to the thin tang. This puts the heft of the blade right where it needs to be.

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Very fine aged ivory. Very dense grain and good color.

I have it all honed up and I will try to get a better side pic of it for an upcoming SoTD :)

I'm surprised. When I saw your 'as received ' photo I thought 'not', but you really did an amazing job on it!

nice save ... looks good !!!!

Nice work on this razor, definately french, here a thread about another: http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...on-needed.html


Alphonse Tahan (1830-1880) was the official ébéniste de l'Empereur or master cabinet maker to Emperor Napoleon III. Tahan Fabricant was located at 30 Rue de La Paix from 1849 and subsequently from 1878 at Boulevard des Italiens. His work was exhibited at The London Crystal Palace Exhibition in 1851 and the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1855, and on both occasions were awarded medals. His work exhibits such quality and is in high demand by collectors and enthusiasts alike. Not only did he produce furniture, but also small articles, such beautiful wooden boxes and fine bronze jewelry caskets.

Very nice save.

To be honest, your before photos would have made me run away from that one. Your finished product photos prove I would have been wrong. What a great save, lovely looking razor.

Bob

If that was on Ebay in its original state and someone had asked your advice - you'd have said not to go near it. Just goes to show how wrong we can be.

Thanks for the kind words guys :) Good to know more about it, one of the reasons this site is so great. My knowledge of French razors can be summed up as "they all have great big grins it seems" :)