Razors with character

Well I have reasoned up this post to get some views.

I have a number of razors in my "restore box" which I fullly intend to restore and either display and pass on, and by restore I mean make like new again, a lovely mirrored or even satin blade and cleaning up the scales. (hopefully keeping original)

However I occasionally find a blade when I'm hunting that I love so much I get the edge up and it's a keeper, and now have 5 in my shaving rotation, but for my purposes I don't clean these, I like the little bit of character that these blades have with some tarnish and pitina, I do obiously sanatise and give them a bit of a polish with maas to get rid of any gunk, but does anyone else here like to keep the old character of the blades they use? Or does anyone see any downside to it other than aesthetics?

Geek

You are definitely not alone in this, lots of guy leave the patina and pitting on their blades. As long as you're careful about oiling them to prevent further damage, enjoy :)

Is sometimes painfull to see the extent some so called restorers go to in trying to make blades bright and shiny again.
If you have to remove alot of metal (other than honeing) thats not restoration,JMO.

I like them shined up but with residual pitting. The history is in the pitting, and the shine shows that the blade was resurrected. The best of both worlds.

The way I see it, if you want a razor with a mirror finish, buy a new razor. Total restoration ruins vintage blades in my mind. Do just enough to make it functional and safe to use.

The only thing I don't like about leaving the patina on is that it gives the metal an old metal toolbox scent. If it's all polished up I don't seem to get that smell. I do like the look though.

To me, it depends on the blade and the extent of the damage.

Sometimes the only way to bring it back to shaving is to grind off enough that it becomes shiny.

Barring that, my opinion is:
Anything newer than 1900 should be shiny.
Older than 1850 should be clean with a patina.
Between 1850 and 1900, just depends on the blade.