Thread: Joseph Allen leather scale care?

So I've had this Joseph Allen for a few years and shaved with it many times. I always thought the scales were wood. I never did any sanding or anything because I thought they looked good enough. I pulled it out this morning and thought I'd polish up the lead wedge and realized they're not wood at all. They appear to be leather. I didn't care much for these scales an hour ago but now they've peaked my interest. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has experience with leather scales and how they care for them. Obviously they'll need some oil but what Kind and how. I don't want these babies getting all soft and floppy. I've done a search but most of what I found seemed speculative. Any help would be much appreciated.

I have used neetsfoot oil to refresh the leather.

Repeated wipings with neetsfoot oil or mink oil will clean them up. You don't want to soak them in the oil because they will get floppy.

There is also some kind additive that you can put on floppy leather to make it stiff again. I can't remember what it is at the moment. Hopefully someone else will know.

How about trying Renaissance wax? Helps to preserve just anything.

I'd also take the scales off and do a good cleaning and maybe some light buffing.

Are you sure they're not horn or gutta percha?

I'm pretty sure they're leather. They're definitely not horn, wood or any kind of plastic. I've been sniffing then flexing them and looking at them through a loupe. As best I can figure they're hard leather.

Originally Posted by Willisf

How about trying Renaissance wax? Helps to preserve just anything.

I'd also take the scales off and do a good cleaning and maybe some light buffing.

I'm considering the Renaissance wax but I'd like to get some oil into them first. I'm not sure if they'll ever take much oil as they may have been hardened with wax. However they were originally treated they've lasted quite well. When I originally cleaned the razor up I gave them a quick go with some rouge(thinking they were wood) without much of a result.

Happily using a Pitchford in leather scales from Texas currently and while I haven't used anything on the scales, pure neetsfoot is all I would use, when the time came.
Not to soak, as it would soften the hide too much I think as well.
But applied with a rag would certainly freshen up and close the pores in the edges I reckon.
Nice razor, BTW. Love Non XLL's. Never seen one in original leather before. Look after it.


note: pure neetsfoot is not the same as the neetsfoot formula available most places. Read the label, many have silicone and other additives. Pure neetsfoot is available from finer leather supply houses like Tandy.

Originally Posted by MikeB52

Happily using a Pitchford in leather scales from Texas currently and while I haven't used anything on the scales, pure neetsfoot is all I would use, when the time came.
Not to soak, as it would soften the hide too much I think as well.
But applied with a rag would certainly freshen up and close the pores in the edges I reckon.
Nice razor, BTW. Love Non XLL's. Never seen one in original leather before. Look after it.


note: pure neetsfoot is not the same as the neetsfoot formula available most places. Read the label, many have silicone and other additives. Pure neetsfoot is available from finer leather supply houses like Tandy.

All I have done to those on the Pitchford is Renwax, Mike. Seemed to work fine.

Maybe you can try beeswax, at least it will help to repel water. I know that it used as one of the ingredients in the oil for brooks leather saddles. Unfortunately I don't remember exact name, maybe you have something similar.