Need help identifying this wedge...

Can't find out much about this one. 6/8, no jimps, medium length tail. I think that I can see something like "GOOD" or "WOOD" with an "&" on the first line, and WILL SHAVE WELL on the second. Pretty close to a true wedge. Got it for a song. Any info? All you wedge experts, time to chime in!


I have a few slabs of 3/16 Purpleheart that I am going to cut some scales from. Ready to get this underway, but wanted to see if I could I.D. it before sanding it down...
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs134...._5697152_n.jpg

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs134...._5992967_n.jpg

My guess is that it originally said, "Lather good and you will shave well." Just a guess, though.

Be prepared to spend some real quality time honing that razor. Unless the light is playing tricks it looks like there is no bevel on one side and a really weird looking one on the other. You'll have to completely start from scratch on those edges.

All I can tell you is its an old English razor. They were marked cast steel. probably mid 1800s I would guess.

That is one of the most logical things that it could have said, I guess. I have not been able to find anything on the database with etching like this, and can't tell if there was a name on the blase at some point. Maybe someone on here will have a bit of info for me.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Be prepared to spend some real quality time honing that razor. Unless the light is playing tricks it looks like there is no bevel on one side and a really weird looking one on the other.

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No, I think that it is just the way that the scan looks. I thought that I had taken a few pics of the backside before I started sanding, but I guess I didn't. It seems to have the same amount of bevel front and back, and the "hollow" area seemed to be about the same on both sides. The wear coming down from the top and up from the bottom that you see on the toe of the blade does not seem to take away from the shape of the blade, as the spine thickness does not change at all. How can I test the shape of the bevel? Can I rub something on the surface of both sides then run it on the strop? It seems like it would show the wear on the surfaces then, right?


I need to visit the resto section of the forum.

Isn't that a Wade & Butcher? I think it says "You Lather Well I Will Shave Well"

Could be, but the W&B's are frosted, not etched, and I've never seen a W&B that didn't say Wade & Butcher in one form or another somewhere on the razor.

With the W&B's that I've seen that say "warranted" or "cast steel" on the tang, they have "Wade & Butcher" on the front of the spine.

And if that does say Good it wouldn't be the same as the one I saw. Just guessing on my part.

In order to show the bevel, I soaked it in vinegar, then gave it a quick swipe over a piece of 400 grit paper.

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._3767677_n.jpg


http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs154...._6541221_n.jpg


Might not be the best way to show it, but it was all that I could think of.


Does this look like it is worth saving? I hope so, as I have taken a bit of a shine to it.


*** I removed the scales, they were horn in pretty bad shape and had "the old english razor" stamped into them. I am not sure if they were original, or if the stampoing was original either. It was spaced sort of oddly, with a gap between" ol d english". Not that pronounced, but not as though it had been done by machine. Maybe it was original, and done by hand. Also, the text on the scale was oriented with the bottom of the text aligned with the scale edge closest to the blade. As in, normal positioning of the closed razor with the wedge on the left and the pivot on the right would have the text upside down, running from my right to left. I think that it was horn, as when I scraped it quickly with a razor it smelled like hell.


Thanks for the info, folks!

Well "the old english razor" was if I am correct a W&B thing, but as said on the fact it would have W&B on the tang, my first thoughts were something along the lines of "You lather good & I will Shave Well" but thats just a guess,

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tat2Ralfy

Well "the old english razor" was if I am correct a W&B thing, but as said on the fact it would have W&B on the tang, my first thoughts were something along the lines of "You lather good & I will Shave Well" but thats just a guess,

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From what I have seen, there were som Frederick Reynolds "The Old English Razor" models, and the blade looks similar to mine, but no etching. And the text on the W&B that says "You Lather Well & I Will Shave Well" is set in diagonal rows of flowing, script type text. This one is in block text set on parallel lines. I am at a loss. I do like it though, and am looking forward to restoring it. I just wanted to try to ID beforehand. I am sure that at some point someone on here will pop up and know just what it is.

Well happy hunting mate and I cant wait to see it done.

O.K., folks. Started hand sanding this wedge today, along with a Genco Lincoln. Just going to take my time, a bit of sanding here and there. Spraying with WD40 between sessions to lessen the risk of rust. Have done a bit of reading, but can't find any wedge specific info as far as restorations go. Is there anything that I need to take into consideration when tackling this blade? I picked up some automotive grade 3M wet/dry paper in 220, 400, 800, and 1000. That should get me started, and I can pick up something higher for the final finish.

Any tips (aside from what is on the Wiki) would be great!

yes keep it going . you will get there. GL

I am also trying to mock up a set of scales... Not sure if I am going to replicate the original style, rounded ends, pretty plain - or do a set with a boxier end with double pins on the wedge. I think that larger scales will show off the grain of the Purpleheart a bit more as well. I really like the scales that Max makes for some of the wedges he does. Not that I am in a rush, as I will be sanding this thing forever!