Thread: Puma 100 6/8" round tip

Hi Gents,

I bought this at an antique market yesterday for $12 with the hopes of possibly having it restored, if it doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Wanted to post it here and get some opinions from those with more experience than I.

Does anyone have an idea how much it would cost to have it restored?

Here are some pics after I cleaned it up with a bit of polish. There is some very minor pitting ( in my humble opinion). Would grinding or sanding the blade be necessary? Or just a proper honing and a good polishing. The pitting appears to be worst at pin/tang area.

Would love to hear your opinions.

nice catch and for $12? im callin the cops

Originally Posted by jszabo

nice catch and for $12? im callin the cops

Hahaha...thanks jszabo. It didn't look quite that good when I picked it up, it's amazing what a little Maas and some elbow grease can do.

definitely sanding for the pin and likely for the blade, if you want it perfect. regrinding is not an option in my opinion as it's full hollow and it's not necessary anyways.
as far as cost, it's either sandpaper and your time, or you should ask directly the people who do this things - check the member services in the classifieds.

And for $12 you really scored!

Originally Posted by gugi

definitely sanding for the pin and likely for the blade, if you want it perfect. regrinding is not an option in my opinion as it's full hollow and it's not necessary anyways.
as far as cost, it's either sandpaper and your time, or you should ask directly the people who do this things - check the member services in the classifieds.

If I am going to try this myself, what grit of sandpaper should I use. I'm a bit of a picky guy, so I'd like to make it a nice as possible...perfect would be great, although I'm not sure I'm capable.

Originally Posted by gugi

And for $12 you really scored!

Thanks, that means a lot coming from someone like yourself!

Oh Yeah!!!! That one will be very handsome with a little cleanup. Fantastic luck. Congratulations on a valuable find.

Originally Posted by Croaker

Oh Yeah!!!! That one will be very handsome with a little cleanup. Fantastic luck. Congratulations on a valuable find.

Thanks Croaker!

Originally Posted by bbsupersport

If I am going to try this myself, what grit of sandpaper should I use. I'm a bit of a picky guy, so I'd like to make it a nice as possible...perfect would be great, although I'm not sure I'm capable.

Great find!

I usually start at 220 to remove the tarnish, then progressively finer to remove the scratches. Something like 320, 400, 600, 800 etc. I personally stop at 1500 although many folks go finer. Then polish with Maas or some other compound. Be sure to keep the sanding even along the blade.

The part that would be a little tricky would be trying to correct the uneven hone wear, heavier on the toe. You'd have to get rid of the existing hone wear at the spine, and the existing bevel. You can pinch the spine with the 220 grit and sand that. Do the same for the edge (careful with your fingers!).

If you want to be perfect, you'd want to remove the blade from the scales by depinning at least the pivot, so you can clean up the otherwise inaccessible part of the tang, and allow you to clean up the scales better, too. Then replace the pin. Not really that difficult, but it takes practice to do well (I am still trying to get the hang of this part, too), and I am not sure you want to do that on such a find.

Even after all that, you're probably still not going to get a mirror polish like you see on the Gallery from the guys with the wheels and buffers, and not to mention, lots of talent at using them.

Or you may want to say, hmmm, let me send it out, and about a week later, get a nice, shiny and sharp Puma back in the mail.

Don't get me wrong, restoration is a fun and fulfilling part of the hobby, just like honing your own. But with a special razor (what are the odds of finding another at that price if you wrecked this one?) that you got at such a bargain, you may want to treat yourself!

Thats not true, I did this with my hands.



Would I do it again? **** NO!!! Was it worth it. Probably. I love that razor because of all the work I put into it.

Originally Posted by Leighton

Thats not true, I did this with my hands.

BOY, that is so spotless and shiny, I was obviously wrong.