Thread: Odd Wedge

I was disassembling this old, worm-eaten, stubtailed Revitt to save the rosette washers and the original wedge for rescaling, when I noticed something odd. The wedge had a rectangular cut-out that I had never seen before. Has anyone else ever run across this modification? I'm sure these scales and wedge are original (c. 1820). Anyone have any ideas as to why this piece was removed from the wedge? I doubt that it had anything to do with overall balance, but who knows ..... ?

Regards - Walt

it'll be lighter, from the picture may be 25% lighter than without the hole, but the blade's pretty heavy to start with, so i don't think it'll make significant difference in ergonomics.
but if you give me the weights of the blade, the scales and the wedge, i'd try to estimate the difference.

Gugi - Thanks for the offer, but there are huge chunks of the scale eaten away by worms. So, I don't think there would be any way of accurately weighing them.

Regards - Walt

Perhaps to save on fabrication cost?

Originally Posted by gugi

it'll be lighter, from the picture may be 25% lighter than without the hole, but the blade's pretty heavy to start with, so i don't think it'll make significant difference in ergonomics.
but if you give me the weights of the blade, the scales and the wedge, i'd try to estimate the difference.

Don't forget to adjust for the decay of the lead over 200 years.

Originally Posted by str8fencer

Perhaps to save on fabrication cost?

Seems like that would add an extra few steps to remove the material... unless they were casting these pieces in that era?

Very curious Walt..... Looking forward to seeing your restoration!

Originally Posted by HNSB

Don't forget to adjust for the decay of the lead over 200 years.

+1.

Also, that may have been an imperfection in the lead that was simply ignored because it didn't affect the function.

Originally Posted by VeeDubb65

Also, that may have been an imperfection in the lead that was simply ignored because it didn't affect the function.

Since I see no functional purpose for it, that is my best guess as well.

Originally Posted by HNSB

Don't forget to adjust for the decay of the lead over 200 years.

I'll have that covered very well by carbon dating the traces of various organic material stuck on it

However you naysayers are totally wrong and will probably burn in hell for it - it is a razor, therefore it was designed, therefore there was an intelligence into that design, you just don't see the higher purpose of it, but if you repent and accept the designer as your personal lord and savior... oh, wait I'm in the wrong forum section again...