Thread: What a difference a flash makes

As some of you already know, I recently had the "good luck" of looking for straights on eBay right around the time someone was posting a Wade and Butcher wedge with a low 'Buy it now' option. I pounced, figuring the blade didn't look all that bad in the pic, as you may or may not see, depending on whether or not I attached this correctly.

That gleam, was misleading. What looked like a partially tarnished blade turned out to be heavily blackened and encrusted with Lord only knows what. The co-worker with me when I opened said, "I'm going to hope it was only pigs the person who owned that originally was slaughtering."

I know most of the seasoned vets around here recommend buying from a few trusted sellers, but sometimes one can't help but jump at what looks like an unexpected treasure. Unless you want an unanticipated crash-course in blade restoration, keep in mind that pictures sometimes don't accurately reflect the item. On the plus side, after a totalled 18 hours of hand-sanding I get to show off my shiney new toy with some modest pride. No worries, Vladsch, your crown is in no risk of being usurped. Now I'm just hoping that, when it arrives to the hands of one of the honemeisters here, I don't get told the remaining pitting is too severe to make this a usable shaver.

Sometimes the blurr will also conceal some bad nicks. That's what happened with this W&B that I got. At least you'll be able to use your new baby.

As they say you buy your ticket and you take your chance.

As long as you didn'y pay too much for it its no big loss, just chalk it up to experience.

Well, I haven't wholly written it off yet. Besides, I got a good feel for what goes into the hand-sanding process, which helped me in cleaning up, and taking a chip out of, a little Puma someone had given me. I'm attaching pics of the two 'after' versions of the blades. Feel free to critique...

Should this be in the "Restoration" forum?

I might be wrong, but that Puma looks like it won't be shaving much (must have lost at least 2/8 of the blade?) Heard that these cannot be used for shaving - but maybe you can prove this wrong? Please, keep us informed

CHeers
Ivo

When I got the Puma, it clocked in at 3/8," so it's not all that much narrower now than it was. I can't say for certain what it's size was when it started its life, but based on how naturally the shoulder seems to blend into the heel, I'd guess it was either always a 3/8" or shortened by someone very, very dedicated to detail. The chip in the blade, when it came to me, was just off the point, so rather than hone down the entire thing, I tried to round the point gently into the length of the blade. All that said, I agree it probably isn't meant for shaving so much as shaping.

If anyone knows their Pumas well enough, and can attest to the widths of the various models, this one is stamped '44' on the shank.

The flash makes a dramatic difference.
Yesterday I was having trouble getting a good picture of some razors for listing due to it raining and very little natural light.
I tried the flash and decided I couldn’t use them on their own so I waited till today for some better light.
I got my photos done and listed the razors with the flash pictures included.
I was going to explain the disadvantages of bidding on razors with flash only pictures but thought it may be a little pretentious. I just hope by seeing a flash picture and a natural light picture side by side that they might realise.
For anyone interested in seeing the pictures the links to 4 razors with a flash pic each are below. Tony
http://files.photojerk.com/weirdcat/Kurokiflash.jpg
http://files.photojerk.com/weirdcat/Kurokiback.jpg
http://files.photojerk.com/weirdcat/...flashlarge.jpg
http://files.photojerk.com/weirdcat/Kurokifront.jpg

http://files.photojerk.com/weirdcat/Hornebrosfront.jpg
http://files.photojerk.com/weirdcat/Hornebrosfalsh.jpg
http://files.photojerk.com/weirdcat/Hornebrosback.jpg

http://files.photojerk.com/weirdcat/...gringfront.jpg
http://files.photojerk.com/weirdcat/...gringflash.jpg
http://files.photojerk.com/weirdcat/Hamburgringback.jpg

http://files.photojerk.com/weirdcat/Marsdenback.jpg
http://files.photojerk.com/weirdcat/Marsdenflash.jpg
http://files.photojerk.com/weirdcat/Marsdenfront.jpg