W & B Wedge - Do scales match?

This W & B has been in my drawer for a while. I plan to clean it up a bit and would like some thoughts about whether or not to bring up a mirror finish. All I’ve done so far is use some Maas with a soft cloth to remove the grime that was on it when I got it.

I keep looking at this razor and for some reason the scales don’t seem to look original. It is a good shaver and the scales are in good shape. I’m just curious about whether the knowledgable folks at SRP think the scales were added after a redo.

Attachment 285940

The blade profile is asymmetrical. Is that typical for a wedge?

Attachment 285941

All I can say is I've seen W&B marked Special before. So my guess is its the right scales. But its just a guess.

JMO, The asymmetrical grind may have been a microtome. A very common find. Like a Kaminsori, it is meant to lie flat on the holder of the sample to be sliced.
So, The scales could be original as the blade is a "special."
Again, JMO
~Richard

That is an interesting find. All of my W&B razors are more simple. All horn except for one. I love ornate bolsters on the scales. Reminds me of a German Engels razor. I've seen Special stamped into scales, but not an inlay before. Very nice find and probably is original as others have mentioned.

Look at the pins really close compare the wedge pins to the pivot pins if they don't match that is a good clue that the scales were changed

AFAIK The W&B Special was only made as a Hollow Grind which is another clue that these are not original

Fit can also be a clue


You have to look at all the clues and make and educated guess

Thanks to all for the suggestions.

I am pretty sure that the razor is a microtome - the flat side and wedge on the other sure look like the one in the SRP razor database.

I think it would be unusual for a microtome to have fairly fancy scales given its utilitarian purpose. I am now convinced the scales are not original. Following up on GSSixgun’s suggestions, I took a closer look at the pins and the wedge. The pins do match up, but the wedge pin is missing one collar and the wedge does not fit perfectly, suggesting it was originally fit to a different set of scales.

I have to admit this little bit of detective work was fun. The razor is kind of interesting looking and shaves well, so I’m not disappointed.

I wonder if in setting the bevel and honing it to shave ready, I may have accidentally figured out how to hone a kamisori ; ). I don’t own one, so that may have to be a next acquisition.

If those aren't the original scales, I wonder what the originals looked like. The other W&B blades similar to that (not microtome though) had blonde horn scales with the wedge molded into them. I'm not sure what the term for those is. Wedgeless?

Picture by Outback
Attachment 285966

Om the honing question :D No hehehe

A Microtome and a technically Wa-Kamisori ar enot the same nor do they hone the same :)

A Traditional or Wa Kamisori actually is hollow on both sides they are just not equal like a western grind SR

Anyway off in the deep end but it is fun sometimes :D


Little hint on shaving with a microtome, you can actually adjust it more like a SR so it does want to cut you to death by adding an extra layer or two of tape to the flat side

Not a microtome, IMO. Just a wonky grob/spine on an old Sheffield wedge.

Scales are from the next century. Likely German.
Every maker and hardware had a 'Special'.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

Not a microtome, IMO. Just a wonky grob/spine on an old Sheffield wedge.

Scales are from the next century. Likely German.
Every maker and hardware had a 'Special'.

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Agreed.

The W&B razors after England got added to the stamp were not the most cleanly ground. It's really common to find them with asymmetries like that.

If there was an etch on the blade, it would've been crocus (mirror) polished. If not, the blade and tang on those was a flat glaze finish -- somewhere between 300 and 600 grit. I use 600 grit sandpaper on a drum to mimic it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

Not a microtome, IMO. Just a wonky grob/spine on an old Sheffield wedge.

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Yes, I was wondering about that but it is hard to tell, for me, from the angle of the photo.

Bob

Well, this has got more interesting than I ever thought.

I will try to add a better photo of the blade’s profile. Perhaps that will help settle the microtome question.

I appreciate the tape suggestion for honing. Glen, would you apply the tape to the flat side only?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DZEC

Well, this has got more interesting than I ever thought.

I will try to add a better photo of the blade’s profile. Perhaps that will help settle the microtome question.

I appreciate the tape suggestion for honing. Glen, would you apply the tape to the flat side only?

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A head on shot of the blade would be good.

Bob

It was more challenging than I thought it would be to get a straight on shot of the nose of the blade with my phone. Focusing on such a small cross section seemed to throughly confuse its sensors.

I don’t know if these pics will end the microtome discussion or not, but I do not think I can improve on them.

Attachment 286021

Attachment 286022

Good job. Old wedge!
As you get a microtome, there will be NO question! ;)


Attachment 286023

That is a scary looking blade!!

i think it's honed by a newbie. the point is not asymetric. otherwise those scales are not original. if you can work on it to make the blade symetric, i advice you to do new scales by horn