need advice on how to handle my Johnson.

Ok hope no one was offended by that litte joke. I've been planning to hone my new Johnson, but had a question about the part of the blade near the heel that swoops back in a little bit. I've seen old razors kind of shaped that way, but I'm not sure if this one is meant to be that way; or if it is a product of being honed to death as one member described it.

I think Manah has or had one quite similar to this one and I don't believe his swoops. So I guess I'm asking if I should use my DMT to fix the swoop and reshape the heel.

She looks like a beautiful old razor, I would not do any re-construction with a DMT. I would examine the edge, as in any razor & take her up through the grit levels. Examine the edge as you progress & see if difficulties reveal themselves.

I have 2 of those I have just left alone since I got them. I don't know what you mean by swoop as I can't really see a hook or frown so it looks like it's supposed to , to me. Put it to a stone and see what turns up. Start with at least 3 layers of tape maybe even 4. Mine is as a wedge as they come. You can always pull layers off but adding them later is futile. The scales look okay :<0)

if it has a frown you could do light bevel set/check at about a 30-40° angle & then drop down flat to the hone with tape as 10Pups has suggested

EDIT: use the 1K for this & DO NOT breadknife it, the rest of the blade shape is right

It isn't translating in the pictures very well, but it is as plain as day to me. A very slight inward swoop near the heel. Looks like it could be the beginnings of a heel hook or should I say rather a slight frown near the heel. 10Pups would you be able to post pics of yours in this thread so that I can see what they look like? Or direct me to a thread they are posted in? If this is what it is supposed to look like I will gladly leave it.

I could see what you meant from the first pic. That needs to be ground down at the heel to form an even smiling curve from toe to heel. I've done the same with two razors on the DMT. Be careful not to grind any of the material off toward the toe. I placed the blade on the edge of the DMT with toe off and just the part I wanted to grind touching then used short bread knife strokes, pushing the blade off the DMT, while raising the toe until I got the curve right. Then I reset the bevel using extra pressure on the heel.

Yep, a little off the heel will fix that.

I wouldn't do anything with it but hone it as it is and use it. I have several stub tails and a W&B FBU that look like that. The W&B used to be an 8/8 but if I evened the edge to match the heel then it would only be a 7/8 so I plan to leave it alone and just hone it the best I can.

I stand corrected and see the small frown. That is not part of the profile. Onimaru said it perfectly.

Here is pics of mine. Sorry it took so long but my excuse is,,, I have twice as much Johnson to whip out :<0)
The eldest is on the bottom and profiled much like yours. You may be able to see it has 2 chips I have to contend with when I do get around to it. Yours is an easy fix and hone. Nice razor !

Attachment 176709

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Thank you everyone for the advice. I did wind up taking a little off the heel using themethod substance described. It really didn't take much to correct the swoop. Full breadknifing was not necessary. It did take forever to set a good bevel along the entire edge, but she's all honed up and ready for tomorrow's shave. Can't wait! Thanks again to all who responded.

I did start with three layers of tape and worked down to one in case anyone wondered.

I have seen 1 tape bevels twice that tall is why I say start with 3. Some like a smaller bevel than others and with a wedge like that I would have stopped at 2 I think. Hope you enjoy the morning shave.

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Originally Posted by 10Pups

I have seen 1 tape bevels twice that tall is why I say start with 3. Some like a smaller bevel than others and with a wedge like that I would have stopped at 2 I think. Hope you enjoy the morning shave.

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I've only recently begun using tape when I hone though I wish I had started sooner. I could have saved some razors some hone wear and the bevel on my I*XL is quite tall. I'm afraid if use different thicknesses of tape I won't remember which razors had which. Starting with the multiple layers is really helpful though.

The older one that you have looks like it has the same scale material as mine. I'm assuming it is horn? Mine has some dark spots in it that I'm not sure are in the horn or something on the inside surface of the scales. Either applied intentionally or just accumulated gunk.

Dyed to look like tortoise shell. It's horn.

If you make a habit at starting with layers, then when you need to hone again ,do the same thing and drop down to match. Worse case you get a micro bevel which ain't always a bad thing. Or make a list.

I like how it turned out !

personally I don't mind the broad bevel I have one old wedge razor which was kind of beaten up when I got it, almost turned the entire razor into the bevel and I'm thinking about completing it

Just remember: if you treat your Johnson well, it'll last you a life time.
Mine, pasted strop 20-30 times before and after each use. Wash it off with warm water after each use. Made sure it dry and oiled before I put it away.
Nice.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Johnus

Just remember: if you treat your Johnson well, it'll last you a life time.
Mine, pasted strop 20-30 times before and after each use. Wash it off with warm water after each use. Made sure it dry and oiled before I put it away.
Nice.

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I wouldn't touch that with a 10" pole:roflmao