Thread: Wade & Butcher reshape ???

So, here's another razor I got in a lot. WB it looks like from the mid 20th century which has obviously been reshaped but I'm trying to figure out why, or why make it a spike point? You would expect a reshape to be because of a broken toe but why cut the spine back that far? It seems unlikely that the spine would be damaged unless it was due to rust and was just cosmetic.




...although sometimes people just don't use logic in their reasoning. It wouldn't have been my choice but maybe they just wanted one like that.
On top of that they did all that work to reshape it and did nothing about that heel with the stabilizer sticking way out there.


Here's my correction


Of course I guess that could have progressed to that point after multiple honings but it looks like they trimmed down the heel end to give it that narrowing blade shape.

They did make wedges that shape so it is likely a regrind. Lots of heels need to be reshaped. It looks like you did a good job on that one.

Looks good, Paul.

Originally Posted by RezDog

They did make wedges that shape so it is likely a regrind. Lots of heels need to be reshaped. It looks like you did a good job on that one.

Thanks Shaun. You think a regrind? That never really occurred to me. It looks pretty much like most every other hollow ground WB I have but I suppose that's possible. Now that you mention it I do see a couple of flaws in the spine and the shoulder grinding on the back side. It has obviously been shortened a little. You can tell by how it has some extra space in between the spine and the wedge and also whatever funky grinding that is at the toe end of the spine.
I also got a Joseph Elliott's Celebrates Razor in this lot which I think may have been reground. Here's a picture of it. See how it looks like someone may have further hollowed the grind and left a shoulder?

Still, I did a little looking around and found one picture of one that is basically the same although the markings are laid out a little different on the tang. It looks like this one may have a slight shoulder also but it's hard to tell from all the rust on the blade. Another thing is that mine doesn't say "The Celebrated" on the blade so a regrind might explain that.

If it was regrind it whoever did it did a very good job because they both took a very nice even narrow bevel.

Regrinds were super common way back when. Less common now because of tape and less users and more disposable income. Way back disposable income did not exist, most were happy if they had food and shelter. Getting a razor was a lifetime purchase and keeping it going was always less than a new one.

As they reground the thick wedges with the barber's notches, the thin results could not support the area below the notch.

Since the notch had to go, a reprofile of the tip was necessary. You will see lots a bit short for the scales (Yours are not original) and with square-points. The slash-cut on yours looks nice.

TBH, I like my old regrinds much better than the wedges. I seem to have several of them!

Originally Posted by sharptonn

As they reground the thick wedges with the barber's notches, the thin results could not support the area below the notch.

Since the notch had to go, a reprofile of the tip was necessary. You will see lots a bit short for the scales (Yours are not original) and with square-points. The slash-cut on yours looks nice.

TBH, I like my old regrinds much better than the wedges. I seem to have several of them!

Well that would make sense at least as to why they ground back the spine. I'm thinking whoever this lot came from originally must have been either a really experienced hobbyist or a professional repair person. I would not have thought that that WB was a regrind.
I'm with you Tom. I really love the look of the wedges, especially the barber notched ones but I just don't care for the shave from them. It's a little stiff for me. I would have them as thin as a DE blade if it weren't too floppy in an SR.The hollow-er the better as far as I'm concerned
I honed both of those last night and shaved with them this morning. 1/2 with one razor and 1/2 with the other and they both shaved nicely but the re-shaped WB shaves a little better. That Elliot is so stinking long It's wider than my 3-in strops. I hate stropping in an X pattern. That's why I got the 3-in wide ones.

The x pattern is better for the blade no matter the width. There was crazy debate about it many years ago, and it is most important with pastes to x but allegedly it makes a difference with regular linen and leather too.

Indeed, so many just had to have that 3-incher when they began.
Lots have gone to the 2 1/2 because of what Rezdog related. The X is the bomb.

You know, I own a business. I'm a skilled tradesman and I would rather hire someone who doesn't know anything and train them myself than to hire someone who learned it the wrong way. At least what I consider the wrong way.
I may have done this same thing to myself because I had been shaving with a straight razor for years before I ever read an article or looked at a forum or anything.I don't think there ever was such a thing when I learned and l learned how to shave, hone and strop by trial and error. It's hard to unlearn old habits.
In fact I didn't even come here looking for that. I came here looking for information on old razors and discovered along the way that there was other information about shaving and honing etc. I was always independent I guess. My dad didn't even teach me how to shave with a straight or strop. I just watched him and did what it looked like he did. I have no idea if he even did it right