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.