Opinion- what to do about scales...
So I want people's opinion here-
Would you or would you not change the scales in this case...
Rare razor. Scales are kind of part of the design- not shape or anything, but pattern. They are also cheap thin plastic/celluloid or whatever but in a rare pattern I suppose. Now the razor is very valuable as eBay (and what I gave in return for it outside of eBay) have dictated. It is currently all original which I believe makes it that valuable. In a way.
The problem is those thin cheap scales are all warped. Because of this I can't tighten the pins too much or the razor will surely close way into the scales when shut (they currently veer that way). So the razor is looser than I would want in the scales. I have now honed the razor so it is ultra sharp, however, I need to use great caution when both opening and closing it so as not to hit the scales. I don't plan on selling the razor any time soon IF ever! What would you do if you were me?
-keep all original and try to retain value (leaving the scales all warped)
-remove scales and try to unwarp them (chance of failure- i.e. ruining them)
-change scales to something custom in the same vein as the originals
-change the scales to something very exotic and valuable
I'm really torn here. Help a brother out.
A dilema to be sure..........
The main factor here is that you've stated that the probability that you'll sell this razor is nil or close to nil. If you really never change your mind on that and you're firm on keeping it for SHAVING and for yourself, then other than providing YOU pleasure from looking at it's original aesthetics, why wouldn't you rescale it to avoid any future damage to the blade?:shrug:
Either you love the original look of this razor and would be less satisfied personally if you rescales, or part of you DOES want to retain its value at the highest possible level for a future sale.
If you rescaled and retain the original scales, at worst, in the future you could always repin it and sell it on Ebay. There's at least one very well known well paid Ebay razor seller that repins at least some (I would assume probably most) of his razors but does NOT disclose that in his listings giving IMO, the impression that his razors are original when they're not. Given your experience now, Alex, I would find a listing from you stating that a razor was professionally repinned as accurate and probably would not decrease the value dramatically if you repinned very well.
Chris L