Immaculate WB

I got this WB last week and am impressed with getting one in such good shape and with the original scales to boot!
Not sure what the wood is but it feels very light like Balsa, didnt know they made Balsawood scales. They are unstained/varnished or anything so the natural beauty shines through. The wedge is a unique design with a wooden dowel held in place by the expertly done collarless pins. A string is attached to the pin at the tang, I am not sure if it is used in lieu of thrust washers or if it was a means of hanging the straight from to aid in drying after use.
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Attachment 238607

I must ask should I just clean up the blade a bit, or try to unpin the scales and risk damaging them in removal/repinning without collars in order to do a full cleaning of the blade?

I am far from an expert but I really don't think they are the original scales. I would do the razor some justice and put a nice pair of horn scales on her and polish up the blade. Give it a nice hone and put the old gal back to work.

yeah, hate to break it to you but i don't think they are original either. all of mine are in black horn. these are too crude and new looking. looks like the blade might have a frown in it too, but looks like a blade with good potential.

Yea, the scales are not original and more importantly because of the thickness and width, will make it difficult to strop and shave this razor.

If you are going to keep them, they need to be thinned, to just under 1/8 in thick each and narrowed at the pivot. Rounding them across the thickness will also help with holding the razor.

Model after an original set of scales, there are tracings of original scales on line, think there are some in the library.

Here is a good thread on making Horn scales and here. If you follow their technique and pattern, even if you use wood, you will also need a wedge to flex the scales and keep them in tension. Horn is not that expensive.

The blade does need at the very least rust removal and some honing. Don’t know what your experience level is, but you have some work ahead of you.

"They" did not make balsa wood scales. Some practical shaver broke his scales and made do with what he had and what he was able to make.

I have a few cobbled razors with scales like that and I never would dream of "fixing" them.

I was seeing plywood and nails.

A good canvas to thin and shape the scales/wedge, add stain, poly, or Tru-oil finish and clean-up the blade, getting it pinned and honed properly.

I think the OP was tongue in cheek[emoji1]

You never know...

Here is a cousin, Kustom scaled "BOB" razor, I picked up a while back.

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I got a custom MK[emoji12]
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...6c210aa933.jpg

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Originally Posted by Mrchick

I think the OP was tongue in cheek[emoji1]

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Ding Ding Ding we have a winner :)

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Originally Posted by Mrchick

I got a custom MK[emoji12]
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...6c210aa933.jpg

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If you rescale them you should inscribe MK2 into them for mark2 scales ;)

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Originally Posted by AlanQ

Ding Ding Ding we have a winner :)

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Well that was a good one I will give you that. We are a couple of months past April fools day:rofl2::rofl2:

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Originally Posted by Hacker7

Well that was a good one I will give you that. We are a couple of months past April fools day:rofl2::rofl2:

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Yeah, good one. I was thinking "this guys been around for a while and thinks these are original?" my apologies. wish i could have sensed the sarcasm.

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Originally Posted by tintin

Yeah, good one. I was thinking "this guys been around for a while and thinks these are original?" my apologies. wish i could have sensed the sarcasm.

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I was pretty sure the bit about the piece of string as a thrust washer was a dead giveaway
Maybe I should have included the finishing nails used as pins ;)

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Originally Posted by AlanQ

I was pretty sure the bit about the piece of string as a thrust washer was a dead giveaway
Maybe I should have included the finishing nails used as pins ;)

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You may be joking, but I "unpinned" this one today. It's not even a finishing nail[emoji1]
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...55dfa244ff.jpg

I love the domed roof nails :<0)

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Originally Posted by AlanQ

I was pretty sure the bit about the piece of string as a thrust washer was a dead giveaway
Maybe I should have included the finishing nails used as pins ;)

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Its always better to proceed with caution. I read it 5 times. was thinking this guy can't be serious. It was a good one, made my Friday nite. how sad is that?:chapeau