I bought a beautiful razor but the scales are loose

Hi guys. I bought an A.Witte Gold Bug straight razor and it is my most favorite razor I have owned (I haven't owned that much). It has very light honing, the condition and such are nice as well. My problem is the loose blade. I brought it to a sharp shop that tried to tighten it a little bit but it still slips out easily when turned upside down or sideways. I have a choice to either return it to the person I bought it from or keep it and send it to someone here to see if they can tighten it enough to where the blade is "stiff" or snug inside the scales when turned upside down. If it doesn't work out, I might sell it and lose some of the money I spent on it and shipping it around. Should I keep it and bite the bullet and pay extra money to send it to someone in hopes they can try to tighten it or should I just return it? I am torn because I love everything else about this razor and I planned on getting rid of my boker edelweiss and dovo forestal to keep this one. Is it just a razor that will always be really loose? I bought it under the presumption that it was snug but yeah. I do not want to try to tighten it myself. Thanks.

Well pretty much anyone that you send it to for honing will tighten that pin up for you without a thought. Send it out and get it honed and everything will be fine. Perhaps you would like to include a picture? Not that we need to see a loose pin but razors are very cool and everyone here likes to see them.

You need a small jewelers anvil and a small ball pein or jewelers hammer to place the pins on carefully and lightly tap the pins to essentially smush them together a tad to tighten up.

I just noticed your location. Max is right there, and he hones and he does really nice work.

Okay. I like the razor enough to keep it and I'll send it out to get honed and hopefully tightened to my liking. If it cannot be tightened to not slip out when upside down, then I guess Ill bite the bullet of the money I spent on it and maybe sell it here. I like it enough to risk money to try to save it for me. Ill try to post a picture later. By the way, Max is not easy for me to get to in person. I would probably have to call him some days or the day before, prepare to bring some food and water on me and a bag, and prepare to make that the journey of my day. =p

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Originally Posted by Ponypox

I can't really get to max in person. He is not easy for me to get to and I would imagine I would have to call him, prep a day and some lunch/full phone battery to try to get to him, lol. My main concern was that I asked some local guy to do it (just some sharp shop guy) and he was afraid to tighten it more because he says he is scared the scales will break. I guess what I am asking is whether the scales will always be loose like that or should I go ahead and keep the razor and send it to someone here to make it snug enough to not open when upside down?

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Max is a member here. Send him a PM. you never know. He does do great work and a master with the hones.

If Max can't tighten that razor ....... it can't be tightened. Send a PM to him and arrange to get it to him. It will be worth it if you really like the razor that much.

I understand that Max is very respected but I have to stress that at the current moment in time, I CANNOT get to him easily or somewhat send it to him as easily as I would like. I am probably going to ask gssixgun for help. If there are any objections, please let me know but please understand that right now, unless I am mistaken, it is easier for me to access gssixgun than max. I do not want to go into details why because I don't want to give away information regarding where he lives or why I am hesitant in sending him my razor through mail.

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Originally Posted by RezDog

....... Not that we need to see a loose pin .......

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That made me LOL. :rofl2:

I should really go to bed.

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Originally Posted by Ponypox

I understand that Max is very respected but I have to stress that at the current moment in time, I CANNOT get to him easily or somewhat send it to him as easily as I would like. I am probably going to ask gssixgun for help. If there are any objections, please let me know but please understand that right now, unless I am mistaken, it is easier for me to access gssixgun than max. I do not want to go into details why because I don't want to give away information regarding where he lives or why I am hesitant in sending him my razor through mail.

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Glen would be a fine choice, I think Max was brought up because he also live in LV. :gl:

I'll try to post a pic when I can of my razor. I like it because it could be really old and it looks like it could kill me. That's really cool.

Oh, yea… that Area 51 thing…

Don’t blame you those tin foil hats and desert sun, well that’s another…

thing…

Here is the razor in question-

Attachment 236561

It is a very nice razor. As for the tightness of the pivot area, everyone's tastes are a bit different as to how tight they are. As many on here know, the razor is also not consistent in its respective tightness through the whole range of its swing.

Pony, again my offer stands, send it back to me and I can peen the pin some and tighten it up for you. I am not in the business of "flipping" razors, I am merely thinning the herd. With that said, I do stand by what I sell. If returning it and a full refund is what you desire, then that can be arranged.

The beauty of this site is not only that it is a medium to help others learn how to use a straight razor, it also has much information on the care and maintenance of these razors. My personal thought is that everyone should be able do the basic maintenance and have the ability to tune the razor in to their liking. I mean no disrespect in saying that, but these things are a bit more complex than your basic razor from the drug store.

Please let me know which direction you wish to go. I have several other razors I wish to sell and I do not want a tarnished image. I will do what needs to be done to make sure a fellow member is satisfied.

Thanks,
Jerry
AKA- Kilowattkid

Pony, Jerry's offer sounds like the one to accept. Can't get more honest than that. My Edelweiss was loose in its scales when I got it. I managed to shave, strop, and hone for over a year with it just fine. I sent it to Glen for needed heel work and he tightened it up without even asking before sending it back to me. So, you can live with it as is, pay Glen to hone and service it, or send it back to Jerry for a free service. It is a very nice razor; I don't think the proper decision is a very hard one to make...

Free is always better than paying! I would let Jerry fix the loose pivot personally if you cannot do it. But quite honestly, if you have several razors they all eventually work loosen a bit in time. I would certainly look to the future of buying a small jewelers anvil and hammer for being able to do this on your own for sure. Not a big investment what so ever. Maybe even right at $10 tops. I bought mine off Amazon and have been very happy.

Thank you for your helpful words Jerry. I will keep the razor and probably ask glen to tighten it as he is closer to my area and I will send it to him to hone anways. Also, I have absolutely no intention of saying anything ill about anyone. Everyone one this website has been very kind and I intentionally did not post any names. You have been more than accommodating enough and I truly appreciate the help and advice you have given. You have an amazing collection by the way, lol. :)

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Originally Posted by Ponypox

Thank you for your helpful words Jerry. I will keep the razor and probably ask glen to tighten it as he is closer to my area and I will send it to him to hone anways. Also, I have absolutely no intention of saying anything ill about anyone. Everyone one this website has been very kind and I intentionally did not post any names. You have been more than accommodating enough and I truly appreciate the help and advice you have given. You have an amazing collection by the way, lol. :)

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Thanks for compliment. Enjoy the razor! Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

I have been on a razor a week kick and have has most arrive loose. While I have a 2 ounce ball peen and vise anvil that I normally use, I fixed one on a upside down skillet and placed the curved side of an old spoon on the pin, then wacked that with a ladle. I don't recommend everyone be too lazy to go downstairs for the right tools, but I have to say it worked.