Thread: Help identifying old 'India steel' wedge razor

Hi I picked up an old razor for next to nothing a little while back now, and thought it would make a good candidate for restore practice. I was wondering if anybody recognized the tang stamp and could tell me a bit more about it>
It certainly is not without problems,, for one the wedge has either fallen out or it was pinned without one? Whatever the case I think it has caused a pretty deep split in the middle of one of the scales (which I would really like to save). Either that or at some point somebody made a cut into the handle because it seems too deep to be an accidental 'nick', but thankfully it only goes about 2/3 way through the tough old scales.

I'm sure a lot of people would recommend I throw out the scales and replace, but I have a thing about trying my best to preserve any scale/handle material that was once attached to a living creature :)
The blade is heavily pitted and looks like its had a clean at some point as there is no patina,,, just heavy pitting! :(
Looks like it will be a nightmare to reduce it down, but part of the aim of this is to see how far gone is too far gone with a wedge blade.
The tang stamp sadly has parts totally missing but the rest of it is bold. It looks like either a 'B' and a crown or 3 crowns , and it looked to have said, "fine India steel razor" , no maker name, no Sheffield ect.

I've tried to take a few pics (sorry went a bit picture crazy) to show the tang and general condition,, I took a pic of it next to another old razor, an ivory handled wedge razor to try show that this one is quite small for an old razor,, Also most wedge blades I've seen tend to have the classic curved spine and edge, but this one seems to be dead straight on the spine and the edge which is what I was trying to show in these pics. Also the it looks like there's a huge crack across the blade in the pics,, its just a deep scratch (another mystery about this razor). Should sand out to be quite faint.

Thanks in advance guys any info and advice would be great :)

It has honey horn scales that appear to be made wedge less. Not a bad razor it just looks like it has lost some of it's character over time. I will let others take a stab at date and maker.

Originally Posted by 10Pups

It has honey horn scales that appear to be made wedge less. Not a bad razor it just looks like it has lost some of it's character over time. I will let others take a stab at date and maker.

Oh yea I thought it might be one of those 'integrated' wedges>? I wonder if I can put a lead wedge in there, because the scales have shifted over time and don't meet flush anymore.
The pics don't do it justice really, it has a charm about it when you hold it, and I would love to try shaving with it.
But I do see what you mean,, this razor has seen better days!

I would take it apart and clean up those scales. A little fine sanding and polishing and they may get clear. As for the wedge ,,,, it looks like maybe the pin is just loose. If you did want a wedge you will have to flatten the insides. I would bet you don't have to make a wedge though.

There are a few ways to fill cracks like sanding dust and ca glue or just filling with the glue or epoxy.

Originally Posted by 10Pups

I would take it apart and clean up those scales. A little fine sanding and polishing and they may get clear. As for the wedge ,,,, it looks like maybe the pin is just loose. If you did want a wedge you will have to flatten the insides. I would bet you don't have to make a wedge though.

There are a few ways to fill cracks like sanding dust and ca glue or just filling with the glue or epoxy.

Ah I see what you mean I would have to sand that notch off to fit a wedge. Hope I don't have to and it is just the pin.
Cheers for the tip, so you can use the sanding dust of horn, same way you do with wood? That be very handy to fill those two cuts in the scale.
Thats one other question I had really,, I've seen a 'how to' on this site for un-pinning scales, but the fella uses a drill press and a dremel.
Was wondering if it's possible to do it budget style and saw the 'X' onto the rivet (carefully) with a hacksaw rather then a dremel, then strap the razor to a block of wood with hole drilled out to catch the rivet, then just use a hand drill (electric, obviously) to drill the rivet out instead of with the drill press.
Hope this is possible.. Really would put me off un-pinning if I needed a drill press as well as a dremel!
I do have a few practice sets of old bakerlite scales to do a few trial runs, but just wanted to get a head up on whether this basic method will work

You can use a hand drill , just be careful. One slip and you got more holes or scratches to fill. I used a hand drill a couple of times in the beginning and you need a good center punch to start it. You may be able to make an x with a hacksaw but that seems like a risky way of doing it. All you need to do is get the head off the pin.

These are all short answers , just be careful.

Originally Posted by 10Pups

You can use a hand drill , just be careful. One slip and you got more holes or scratches to fill. I used a hand drill a couple of times in the beginning and you need a good center punch to start it. You may be able to make an x with a hacksaw but that seems like a risky way of doing it. All you need to do is get the head off the pin.

These are all short answers , just be careful.

Ok thanks I will,, I was just going to rush in, but I thought I would make sure my plans where workable first
I got a few Starett punches in the tool box, will get them out and make sure I got the right drill bit ect
Then maybe do a few trial runs on a broken scale I have tucked away, and bite the bullet and go for it

I have one in a bit better condition with the same makers mark. Here is a better photo of it.