Thread: Shumate Razors

Anyone else have a Shumate razor? I have a "Shumate's Tungston" that came from my great grandfather's son.

I recieved it this afternoon in the mail and started working on the broken scale issue (I need some parts bad...). Getting a pair of worn out scales secured to the razor was not as tough as I was expecting. I used some heavy guage silver wire I had laying around from my wire working days. The wire is just a tad skinny but not to skinny that the recycled collers couldn't be used. After tapping a head on the wire (with a spoon ) I got the scales attached and tapped the other end to a head, till it felt stiff. Due to the worn nature of these scales I didn't tighten it as far as I would have liked, fearing that the scale would crack at a few stressed points. See pics

After I got the scales on I jumped at my stones, figuring if I can get a working set of scales on this razor in about 30 mins (first set I've done as well), I think I can get an edge on it as well. Heck why not . While I already had my box of wire gear out I got the head mounted magnafiers out and looked at the edge (much to the enjoyment of my daughter, seems I look crazy with it on). After only 10 passes on the 1200 King I could see that the edge was clean and clear to the edge. On to the 4/8k Norton and a standard pyramid that seemed to go all to well... ok now I was getting nervous. This was going far to smoothly...

Onward to the Tony Miller pasted strop 1.0/0.5 (oh so glad I bought this ) and did 10 passes each side. Than 30 passes on my hanging strop to get it ready.

After the shower I did another 20 passes and shaved with it...

This is the best, first shave, I have ever had with any straight I have. Almost as good as my Gold Bug gave first time out. I'm ever so tickled that I have been able to hone up a razor from scratch and have it shave that good. It has to be the steel, I'm going to look this one up and see what it's all about. In the hand this razor feels great, the tang is just fat enough to be easaly held and manuvered, for me that is, and the weight is what I've come to enjoy the most.

Other than having temporary scales this is by far my best project razor to date. I owe most of my new skills to this site, Lynn and Bill Ellis's Disc's, and all the posts that keep us going here daily.

A big thankyou to all involved in this site