Considering a purchase..

I found a gorgeous razor today while out hunting. It is 'The Admirals' with a really nice set of scales. The price tag is high, just shy of $100 and i'm considering whether or not it would be worth spending that amount. To me something in the $60 range would be more appropriate.

My question is concerning the stringy rust running through the etching on the face of the blade. You can see in the second pic that there are very distinct lines of rust running through or along the outlines in the etching. Im not asking for a valuation because that is verboden. I'm asking if anyone has seen rust like this and what it might take to remove. The better part of the blade looks to be in good shape and the scales are in excellent condition. If a little steel wool and some WD40 would remove the rust while doing minimal damage to the etching, then ill worry about the price. I just don't know if it will clean up. Ive taped over etching once before which works well, but this is a much more intricate pattern.

The Admiral with Pinecone Scales

Attachment 229734

Better angle on the rust..

Attachment 229735

IME you'll not be able to remove the rust without removing the gold wash. No way, no how. I have a Torrey, and a couple of Dovo (Fritz Bracht) with rust under gold wash like that and I just leave it be. That razor is worth whatever for the scales more than the fancy blade.

Decorated celluloid scale collectors pretty much don't care about the blade. It would probably hone up to be a good shaver.

Looks like the rust is far away enough from the edge to be ok, as long as it is not near the edge on the opposite side should shave fine.
With Jimmy on the Gold wash, you will either have to leave it or lose it. Nice scales I must say.

If your looking for usable that might not be the best choice. IMHO.

I'm no expert, but some "ugly stuff" seems dangerously close to the edge. Others might weigh in on 'cell rot'. I don't know enough to tell.

Lot of money for a fixer upper, but it's your money. Just that there is always going to be another razor down the road, and probably cheaper. Maybe if it was already cleaned up and honed the price may not be too awful, Tc

If it was me I'd pass because the rust would always bother me and you really can't take it off without affecting the etch.

If you are a dedicated scale collector then that's a different story.

Well it is not so bad that it is making the life of the razor crazy short, but it will pick up speed. If you really like this old girl, and can live with it that way for a little while then just use it as is. I am never afraid to make lower offers on things that I would buy for less. Make an offer and play it from their.

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Originally Posted by RezDog

Well it is not so bad that it is making the life of the razor crazy short, but it will pick up speed. If you really like this old girl, and can live with it that way for a little while then just use it as is. I am never afraid to make lower offers on things that I would buy for less. Make an offer and play it from their.

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+1. Those Dovos and that Torrey that I mentioned have had rust on them for years and it hasn't progressed. If there is no cell rot going on, and the razor is dried off after use, stored in a low humidity environment, there is no reason for the rust to progress. You can get some R.I.G. (here) and you'll have no worries.

Point out to the seller that the rust is under the gold, and that removing it would ruin the design on the blade. Might bring him down to earth. :gl:

It's not my favorite.

So..

Depending on the responses i got i was considering going back tomorrow for this razor, but only if i could have taken the rust off without ruining the gold wash. Sounds like the best thing to do would be to leave it as is. To me this razor is only worth what they are asking fully intact and with less rust.

On the way out of the shop they mentioned a sale in a few weeks with all their vendors in house. I think ill make a point to go back that day and haggle. You guys have given me some good points to mention to the vendor and after your comments i'm not so 'hot to trot' about this particular blade anymore to overpay for it. The vendor had a few others i liked. I bet they would give me a good lot price.

We shall see..

Thanks again gentlemen. You always come through.

I have had razors with that kind of spider rust, it goes deep. For sure you will lose all the etch and wash.

That razor looks thin and probably will not take a lot of material removal.

I would pass on that one.