Thread: Swedish frameback missing spine

I got a nice early JA Hellberg early frameback razor, unfortunately it seems to be missing its spine,

it's in great condition otherwise and it feels very annoying not being able to use it

I was wondering if anyone has had this problem and what you did to "fix" it, I've been hammering and bending, trying to make one of my own, but that doesn't seem to be one of my skills, complete and utter failure, those spines have a certain shape I most certainly am not able to recreate; not to mention getting the right bevel angle due to the spine thickness (Also wondering the spine will need to have the same sort of steel as the rest of the blade etc etc ?)


I am currently passively keeping an eye out for another early frameback razor on the webs, preferably one with a damaged blade where I can take a spine from, but that doesn't seem to be an easy task, patience must to be the key


Just wondering if anyone had another idea or so, I'm not sure what else to do with these blades

Here's a picture regarding the looks of the earlier framebacks with a spine attached

You may be able to get the right size brass tubing from Hobby Lobby or another craft store. With a Dremel and cutting wheel cut length wise to be able to slip over razor.
That's all I can think of.

Give Glenn (gssixgun) of Gem Star Custom Razors a holler, he should be able to help you. I sent him a Joseph Rodgers & Sons frame back a few years ago and he did a fantastic job fixing it.

I think this is how these are - the thing on top of the blade is the spine and it doesn't extend over the shank.
It's role is to create the correct bevel angle when honing.

Originally Posted by gugi

I think this is how these are - the thing on top of the blade is the spine and it doesn't extend over the shank.
It's role is to create the correct bevel angle when honing.

I included the picture from a razor with a spine, that's indeed how they are, that's not the picture of my razor

It's a little misleading, I meant that mine is missing that top piece, my bad!

Glenn (gssixgun) made a post of fixing a new spine to a frame back (I cant remember what the post title was).

In essence, he took some brass tube, put a split down it and then shaped the ends, before sliding it on.

it was an elegant fix. I've done the same once (using Glens example) and it worked out rather well.

Originally Posted by TristanLudlow

I included the picture from a razor with a spine, that's indeed how they are, that's not the picture of my razor

It's a little misleading, I meant that mine is missing that top piece, my bad!

Ah, I see. It makes sense. I seem to remember having some without the frame too coming from a lot I got on ebay long time ago. I agree with the other guys that if you want to use it your best bet is making a spine for it from a tube cut lenghtwise.

Alright thanks for the advice fellas, I'll see what I can do, if that doesn't work, Ive seen pictures from Glenn's work and that looks really well done, I'll send him a message


thanks for the feedback

I started hammering on a piece of metal out of pure frustration, first flattening it out, then slowly trying to curve the edges inward and then bending it in the halfway point (or as close as I could to it)
Then I taped some wood to my table vise and pressed it onto the razor

The results is not great, but better than I expected (but still not great)

I'm left with an uneven frame / spine, I'll be trying to hollow out my wood taped to the table vise into a good spine figure and see if I can press it into a more even and better pattern (something I maybe should've done in the beginning)

I'm not a handy man, but I try to be;

The brass tubing seems like an easier fix and I'll look into that, but first I'll mess a little more with this

At one time there was a Thread (A Slick Fix) here on SRP started by Glen of before and after pics of the JR&Sons frame back he fixed for me. I tried to find that Tread to show his work but have not been able to locate it. Maybe an Admin. or Mod. could locate and post it.

I'll post some pics of the razor as soon as the batteries for my camera are charged.