Thread: Flea market find: W&B Masonic razor

Originally Posted by xChris

The fact that it is thinner in the back than the front is most likely due to uneven honing ...

I am pretty sure that some W&B (as well as other similar old English brands) had models come like this NOS and this the design

Cheers
Ivo

Originally Posted by xChris

My bad -- I read over your statement about the damage. So it will be more difficult than I thought. Yeah, you'de have to try to figure out how to re-break the joint (probably impossible without detroying the scales further). Then find a suitable replacement wedge from a donor/scrap or making from new stock (e.g., plexiglas, etc.).

The picture doesn't show the break very well, but you can see it at the wedge end if you look closely. I guess it won't hurt to try to repair it, but I won't expect much.

Originally Posted by xChris

So, I guess you're gonna be making new scales, huh?

Yup!

Originally Posted by izlat

I am pretty sure that some W&B (as well as other similar old English brands) had models come like this NOS and this the design

I agree. I have a "Fine India Steel" W&B of the same shape and it shows essentially no hone wear.

Originally Posted by izlat

I am pretty sure that some W&B (as well as other similar old English brands) had models come like this NOS and this the design

Cheers
Ivo

Originally Posted by SteveS

I agree. I have a "Fine India Steel" W&B of the same shape and it shows essentially no hone wear.

Good to know -- thanks! I don't think I've ever seen an untouched W&B, so my experience is obviously skewed.

Shoot me an email if ya want to get rid of it and let me know how much.

Originally Posted by farace

Found a very cool razor yesterday; I hope it's useful as well. It's a Wade & Butcher with what appears to be gold Masonic symbols etched in all over the blade. One scale is cracked and poorly repaired, and the end wedge is missing. The blade itself is very nearly a straight wedge; if I put a straightedge alongside of it, I can see that there's just a hint of hollow to it. I have some questions about it:

1) The edge is curved, from about a 7/8 near the toe to maybe a bit under 6/8 at the heel. Is this the way the blade was made, or was it poorly honed in the past? Is this going to be a PIA to hone? (In other words, should I forget about ever shaving with it?)

This is a very typical profile for the square point W&B's without Sheffield notch. They veer to an almost oblique point sometimes. The narrowing of the blade towards the heel is not the result of poor honing, they are made that way - I've seen quite a few like this. They are not too bad to hone up but I would tape the spine on this one to protect the etchings.

2) I haven't polished the blade yet. Am I in danger of removing the gold from the etchings if I scrub some Flitz on it? How best should I clean it up, or should it be left alone?

Leave it alone!

3) Regarding new scales, I'm tempted to try my hand a making a pair (I have some black walnut that I've been waiting for a use for), but obviously it would be faster and easier (and more certain to get accomplished) if I just buy replacements from Classic (if they'll fit; the existing scales are 5" from pin to pin). Is there any collector/value concern over what it gets rescaled with that I should keep in mind? I at first thought these scales were plastic, but I'm starting to wonder if they might be bone.

Almost certainly they are horn.

4) Anything else I should know about this razor? Can it be used as a Ouija board?

Don't know about the Ouija board but W&B made lots of these for lodges all over the place and of course for anyone who wanted a fancy razor. You're VERY lucky toi have the gold wash intact!

Oh, I paid $10 for this. Good deal?

You paid far too much for it but I will give you $12 and a Herschey bar for it if you like! I might even just stretch to $100 - that's what it's worth I reckon.

I think you got a great buy!!!
I saw one of those at a flea market that was in excellent shape but the vendor wanted $200 and would not budge. I passed.

I have a blade that has the same etching, but it's extremely faded. I had assumed it was masonic, but couldn't tell fore sure. But looking closely at my razor and that picture, I can see that it is the exact etching. What are the odds? Many thanks for happening to throw that picture up.

need a matching shavingbowl?

Marktplaats.nl > Vrijmetselarij - scheerkom - Verzamelen - Verzamelingen en Collecties

Gotta love these resurections of year old threads

Originally Posted by blueprinciple

You paid far too much for it but I will give you $12 and a Herschey bar for it if you like! I might even just stretch to $100 - that's what it's worth I reckon.

Nope, don't fall for it, he's trying to shortchange you here - it's got to be fried mars bar

I guess this is the best masonic w&b I've seen, you guys are in luck it's not mine, or I'd just toss it out there and watch you kill each other