I purchased my blade from another member. I just finished polishing it up on my Nakayama hone and may have to give it a whirl this evening! I am generally very impressed with the blade and the craftsmanship: there are always a few things that you look at and say: "I wonder why he missed that." But the real test will come in the shave so we shall see. I'm not sure that I can wait to get any kind of protection for the scales. I think they will survive a couple of shaves.