Thread: New guy needs your help!

It does look like you'll need to grind, set a bevel. And put a set of scales on.
Grandpa is making a memorable gift of t straight razor that he passed down to you and possibly that you finished..l
I saw accept his gift, learn a few new skills.

As a keepsake it's one thing. A working razor it's another.

You didn't say if your Grandfather was skilled at honing these things previous to his issues. Considering the condition I would guess not and he doesn't realize the work and expense involved or even if you really would ever use a straight.

Consider it a nice display piece. However if he asks you if you have used it in a few months what are you going to tell him?

I would take it and find someone who would put scales on for cheap and advise me if it could be made shave ready for a reasonable price and keep it as a memory of my grandad.

if it is Alabama Damascus it is paqttern welded Damascus but the geometry is off it probally is 6/8 and the spine just under 1/8 can be honed and makes a fine razor but it will need the spine taped to get the geometry right. they make a decent razor. buy ready made scales and go for it. granddad will be proud of you if you finish her up. scales can be bought ready made and you can use micro fasterners to fit it before pinned. Alabama Damascus makes fine steel. I buy billets there to make knives from never had anything short of super sharp from there.

Wow this got more attention than I thought it would have. I would like to thank all of you for responding and trying to help me out! I would've liked to have played Devil's Advocate with a few of you to learn more, but I do not know if that would be against policy or the etiquette on this forum. Once again thank you all for the responses. You all have definitely helped with my decision.

Originally Posted by kn4wd

if it is Alabama Damascus it is paqttern welded Damascus but the geometry is off it probally is 6/8 and the spine just under 1/8 can be honed and makes a fine razor but it will need the spine taped to get the geometry right. they make a decent razor. buy ready made scales and go for it. granddad will be proud of you if you finish her up. scales can be bought ready made and you can use micro fasterners to fit it before pinned. Alabama Damascus makes fine steel. I buy billets there to make knives from never had anything short of super sharp from there.

Thank you very much! This was exactly the type of answer I was looking for. One with real life experience and facts about the particular steel. Incredibly helpful.

If by Devil's Advocate you mean asking questions. Ask away. THere are many willing to answer your questions. Not all the answers will be to your liking but you will learn by hem that this whole area of razors is open to interpretation.

Go to Community. Check membership then Advanced Search. Enter your state in Location and press search. A list of current members in your state will come up. Go down the list looking for Senior Members and check on the right side the date of their latest entry. Look for a Senior Member that has posted no more than 5 months ago or sooner. It would be worth your while to contact them via a PM and see if they can help you. We are a friendly bunch and many will go out of their way to help. Good luck.

Yes, asking questions of course. Just trying to learn how they came up with their conclusions when it is seemingly contradictory to my research, but all of you have been incredibly friendly and I do not wish to rustle any feathers. I'm just trying to learn all I can, and get all the facts. Thank you so much for the suggestion! That seems like a wonderful idea, and I will most likely do that very soon. Yall have been nothing but friendly to me, and I would like to thank you all for your time and advice!

If you don't ask, you can't learn, ask away

It doesn't have an edge suitable for a bevel to witch you would hone to razor sharp, so you need to pay someone or know how to grind the edge. Then you will need to make or buy made scalrl to pin to the. Razor, and after that most likely pay to have it honed because it sounds like this would be your first straight and you do not want to learn honing and shaving at the same time.

You'll find razors are a personal taste.
Materials used to make the razor are a personal taste.
Materials to makes scales are a personal taste.
Honing a razor is a personal taste.

Sooooo, so many personalities soooooooo many personal tastes!

Therefore so many options! Just like shaving soaps

Originally Posted by UTVols13

I would've liked to have played Devil's Advocate with a few of you to learn more, but I do not know if that would be against policy or the etiquette on this forum.

I think you'll find we have more than our share of devil's advocates around here and don't seem to mind much be asked questions. We kind of like questions.