Le Grelot: Which scales?

I'm wanting to pull the trigger on one of the Le Grelot razors, still not sure which vendor though. Anyways, my question is about the scale material. As the price point goes up due to the scales, is it due to the scales being actually better material or just because they're "prettier?" Wood, bone, horn, plastic, even imitation mother of pearl is offered, so which of these materials are best suited for the long run? I hope my question is clear enough, I'm not even sure of my question...Thanks to those of you who can interpret my convoluted questions.

I got my Le Grelot "Hospital" through a member/classifieds. It was rescaled by Max in Butterscotch Micarta. I don't care much for plastic scales. have you checked this site which belongs to Martin Nienberg:

Rasurpur. de

I have not yet had the pleasure of buying from him, but have heard of others who have and the responses have been very positive.

Also keep your eye in the classifieds section...There have been Le Grelots for sale there

Boy those rams' horn scales at Rasupur sure look good. Anyway, I have the standard black scales as seen on the Rasurpur site on my 1/4 grind LeGrelot, and they are very solid, easy to handle if not kind of boring.

To answer your question, some of it depends on taste. I personally find some of the polished horn scales a little slipperier and harder to handle ... the plastic on the LeGrelots seems to have some texture that helps. I don't think the plastic will warp like some of the old celuloid, so I would expect long life. But again ... they are not nearly as pretty as the various horns, woods and bones. I have one set of wood scales, and am always a little careful to make sure the scales are completely dry after use. I am sure they will wear well, but just the thought of wood makes me a little less comfortable. I know others here will disagree ... just my singular perspective.

I have had the pleasure of purchasing both my grelots from that site.

The razors come in perfectly sharp and last a long time.


As for the scale material it's really up to you.

I have the bone scales which are polished to a nice smooth finish and the rams horn that have some texture in them so the grip is not that slippery at all.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/show-...ew-grelot.html

This is the link with pics of my grelots. They are beautiful razors and shave amazing. No matter which one you select you won't be disappointed.

I have a TI in the same blonde horn that Le Grelot are available in. It is a lovely scale material and has a super polish to it.

I would personally opt for either this, snakewood or ram's horn. They are all very nice to be honest, even the bone or ebony which are understated.

Which ever you choose will look great.

As stated above, personal taste rules, I have one each in the polished bone and one in ram's horn.. I love the ram's horn.

I can't remember if it was bone or horn, but I feel like I've heard different issues with these materials. Do they require extra care or maintenance?

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Originally Posted by encore

I can't remember if it was bone or horn, but I feel like I've heard different issues with these materials. Do they require extra care or maintenance?

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I apply neatsfoot oil to my horn handled razors a couple of times a year. The TI horn is the toughest and more plastic like than any other horn I've seen and needs it the least.

These materials don't really need any extra care or maintenance, just keep them dry and out of sunlight. The neatsfoot oil once in a while works nicely.

FWIW, I got an e-mail from the fine folks over at Classicshaving where I posed the same question. They told me that obviously it is a matter of preference and while the Rams Horn tend to be the most aesthetically pleasing, they have a tendency to weaken around the pin. I have no idea if this holds any water, but that is what they said when I posed a similar question.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BladeRunner001

I got my Le Grelot "Hospital" through a member/classifieds. It was rescaled by Max in Butterscotch Micarta. I don't care much for plastic scales. have you checked this site which belongs to Martin Nienberg:

Rasurpur. de

I have not yet had the pleasure of buying from him, but have heard of others who have and the responses have been very positive.

Also keep your eye in the classifieds section...There have been Le Grelots for sale there

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I like the rams horn on your link

Hi,

I have the black horn scales on my 1/4 hollow Le Grelot, and the finish on them is superb. As has been said, because of the finish they do look a bit plasticky !!

I have polished rams horn scales on some of my razors, and they look and feel superb.

Go for the rams-horn :)

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...-rams-horn.jpg
I like the ram's horn. :)