Great looking blades,thx for posting the pics.
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Here's my NOS Wade & Butcher Special.
Jamie.
http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/w...ion/002-11.jpg
http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/w...ion/001-12.jpg
I forgot to post this one.
10/8, wedge, Barber's Notch, Horn scales brass wedge.
Attachment 102582
Here is another.
Attachment 102585
I have a few to add.Attachment 102593
One more!Attachment 102597Attachment 102598
fabulous blades guys,love them all, but a couple questions,has anyone ever seen a N.O.S W&B, 1800s 8/8+ plus razor for Barbers use,mint as new, no resto work,I never have.
At any rate I have a couple nice ones that I am restoring at this time,I know that the flats of the tang and the top of the spine was orig Highley polished like the blades above.I have a major fetish for orig.grind marks,I absolutly love them and always try to preserve them,to me they are things of beauty.
Nobody loves pits, they can to a point be worked out by alot of wheel work,removing alot of metal in the process,also losing the grind marks and ending up with a razor that is 100% chrome like,pretty for sure,But I do not think they actually looked like that in OEM form,I think the blades had a matt finish,your thoughts? am talking about blades from the 1800s here.
Waiting for this to arrive. Attachment 102636
Exactly why I have not touched this one. The grinding striations are there, not much pitting. I will probably fix the scales up and wash/oil it and leave it be. Or not! Gotta find some original collars. A few are toast! I think one is a nail head! The other 3 have the green gunk on them! Of the two FBU's I pictured above, They both had some serious grafts/epoxy work on the scales. One was a reground-to hollow ex-wedge and the other was a well-used wedge (one of the finest shavers I ever laid to face!). I just blued the patina in between the hone wear on the wedge and left it! I have since sold these to a good friend. I have a reground/hollow ex-wedge one at home in my rotation. It shaves wonderfully. The Feather edge has some pitting, but is only buffed a bit and oiled with a few flea-bites fixed. But THIS one is my "mac daddy"! Double-stabilized hollow and untouched. Used somewhat, but not too much. I don't do too much to these anymore. It changes them and their original characteristics. It could be honed and used, but I don't really need it for shaving For now, I am It's custodian. A display in original authentic shape. When I see these scales ripped off and tossed with the collars, the blades shined too much (unless it had to be!), and some g-10 or cocabolo fitted, I just shudder.........
Tom
Back in the day, there were two types of finishes for cutlery. The matt finish you speak of was referred to as a "glaze" whereas the highly polished was referred to as "crocus". It was common on pocket knives to have the front side of the blade with a crocus and the back side with a glaze finish.
I agree with everything you've said and do my best to preserve original grind marks on the older stuff where possible.
I've been in more than a few heated discussions about "pimped out" old pocket knives that had been buffed to a mirror shine that they never had in their day.
Saddest part is that shiny sells best on ebay.
Some GREAT looking blades today!!
THANKS!!