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I got this pre 1890s Wade and Butcher in a large lot on eBay for practically nothing. In the corner of one picture blown up I could just barely make out the circled B and arrow. There's only surface rust and some very minor pitting. The scales are even still in good condition. Fortunately it was a buy it now and I nearly broke the sound barrier (& my finger) pushing the buy it now button.
Attachment 308494
I'll likely post more in The Workshop as I go.
Hey PaulFLUS-That's a nice WB. A good way to see where you're really at with one like that is to go at it with some Mother's or similar polish on a rag and work it over with 0000 steel wool, then buff it out real good with an old cloth diaper or t-shirt. And The Workshop is exactly where you want to be for anything more intrusive; I have learned (and continue to learn!) more there than I have contributed.
In fact, if you have the time and patience (and can skim through the idle banter), a slow scroll through the whole thing is like a grad. course or 4 in advanced razor restoration. Show us some "After" pictures!
I definitely will post some after pics. Those are good tips. I usually start with 2000 w/d to see the stamping more clearly before I do anything but I will definitely try that. I have used triple aught and 4 aught with Hoppes on gun barrels so that makes sense.
Hey, I know there is a post about tail size/shape and date with pics but I can't find it. Anyone remember where to find that?
Here you go, it is in the library !Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulFLUS
Great, thanks!
The more I look at this thing the more in love with it I am. It looks to be hardly used at all. There's very little if any hone wear. Only one little spot on the back side of the blade that looks like it may even leave a spot once it's sanded and buffed.
Attachment 308513
Based on the stampings/etchings, blade style and tail length I'm guessing somewhere around 1870...
Any guesses????
Okay, I moved the restoration of this to The Workshop but this thought didn't seem to fit there exactly.
I couldn't stand it anymore. I wanted to (and still am going to) fully restore this one but I wanted to use it so badly I was about to bust so I honed it up and shaved with it. I felt like a kid peeking at Christmas presents but I'm not even sorry or ashamed of myself. I don't know what they did in Sheffield but nothing shaves quite like a good W&B. They are the standard I use to compare others to. Although, I will get another razor in good shape and honed/stropped well and say to myself, "this one shaves about as well as my W&B Special." Then I will realize I haven't used it for a while and shave with the Special and say, "No way. There's no comparison. What was I thinking?"
In fairness I spent a lot of time and attention on this one. Maybe I have built W&B up so much in my mind that I can't stand the idea of being disappointed. However, they have yet to do so.
W&B are great razors. I have several and enjoy the shaves
