Thread: 2 questions about scales

As I'm new to straights I have 2 questions.

1. Why is it so important to have perfect scales? Meaning no distorted pins, hairline cracks...

2. If you take care of them, do the scales last long as the razor or do they have to be replaced?


Thanks!

Howdy, and welcome to the world of Straight Razors and those who love them!

Unless you are investing in them as a commodity or are a razor collector, scales don't really have to be perfect. Their main purpose is to protect the blade, and to allow safer handling of the some of the sharpest edges available to the general public.

Any defect on an item considered to be a "collectable" decreases its value, so I guess folks who view razors in that light would insist on mint condition scales. Of course, having mint or near mint scales on a razor is nice and enhances its resale value, collector or not.

Minor cracks don't usually affect the operation of a razor as a razor, but distorted and bent pins might cause the edge blade to contact the scale when closing resulting in chips or worse. Warped scales are not desirable for the same reason.

Proper care of a good set of scales should enable them to last the lifetime of the razor, or of the user. Scales made from bone, horn, ivory, and some plastics and hardwoods have lasted at least two hundred or so years, and scales fabricated from modern material like carbon fiber and corian and other "wonder" materials should be around long after we have been "recycled" by natural processes.

Hope some of this addressed your question.

Originally Posted by napoleon

As I'm new to straights I have 2 questions.

1. Why is it so important to have perfect scales? Meaning no distorted pins, hairline cracks...

2. If you take care of them, do the scales last long as the razor or do they have to be replaced?


Thanks!

In my opinon, for functionality, there are three important considerations:

1. Does the razor close without clipping the edge of the scales.
2. If they're celluloid - are they in good shape with no off-gassing
3. Maybe most important - are they pinned well and tightly.

I can't STAND a blade that swivels loosely in the scales. If there isn't proper tension, I think that makes them difficult to hone, strop and shave with.

Beyond that, considerations are largely a matter of personal preference for aesthetic or collectible purposes, although balance and feel are affected by scale material choices, too.

OK, thanks guys!

I was asking, because, theoretically, one could shave with just the blade (with no scales)...

Originally Posted by napoleon

OK, thanks guys!

I was asking, because, theoretically, one could shave with just the blade (with no scales)...

Yes, but without the scales, it is much more difficult to shave. The genius of the straight razor design is that by rotating the scales securely to a 90 degree angle, or approximately so, you've got leverage to keep the blade angle easily controlled and locked in solid. Holding just the shank between the fingers without that right angled seet of scales thrusting out between our fingers like a pry bar, it is not nearly so easy to control the blade.

Originally Posted by PapaBull

Yes, but without the scales, it is much more difficult to shave. The genius of the straight razor design is that by rotating the scales securely to a 90 degree angle, or approximately so, you've got leverage to keep the blade angle easily controlled and locked in solid. Holding just the shank between the fingers without that right angled seet of scales thrusting out between our fingers like a pry bar, it is not nearly so easy to control the blade.

And if you look for them you can get some scales that are as beautiful as the blade if not more so. A beautiful set of scales can make it even more of a pleasure to shave.

Originally Posted by napoleon

1. Why is it so important to have perfect scales? Meaning no distorted pins, hairline cracks...

If can take advantage of this concern to obtain blade you might not otherwise be able to afford.

I picked up a near perfect Boker No. 101 Red Injun for $9.84 shipped. I'm going to re-scale it when I get better at that skill.