Thread: Yankee Cutlery Co. unknown year. (pics)

So I got my first straight razor in the mail today. I'm pretty excited about it, but I have to wait to use it. I knew it would not be shipped "shave ready" and had a chunk out of the blade, but I've got a guy to take care of that for me.

She has Ivory Scales and a full-hollow grind.

I'm wondering, how do I get this apart to clean it? obviously the rivets can be drilled out, but is there an easy way?

Wow you really went for the hard way for your first razor. How is your 'guy' planning to fix the chip? Maybe regrind it into a shorter round point?

Anyways, about the pins. An easy way is to put tape around the pin head if you plan on keeping the scales. Then take a dremel with a small hard sanding bit and just file off the top of the pin. After it's filed down you can gently hammer it through with a rubber hammer and a small pin

Originally Posted by 96firephoenix

I'm wondering, how do I get this apart to clean it? obviously the rivets can be drilled out, but is there an easy way?

pin removal

You better be damn careful unpinning and pinning that ivory! It wont take much as old and brittle as that is to crack apart, as a matter of fact it is not uncommon to find cracks in the pins of well cared for ivory. Good luck!

I would not unpin it, I would clean it as it is and have a professional on this site shorten the blade and hone it for you.
Search the forum for all mattters on how to clean it. JMO

That blade looks like most likely has a bone handle.

I agree with hi bud--looks like the bone scales I've got on one razor.

I've dremeled off the heads of pins, and the pins get awfully hot from the friction. Plus, if you don't have a really sure hand, it's sure easy to slip and chew up the scales. I recommend the flush wire nipper method.

Yep, you're a lonnng way from shave ready with that. Good luck; I hope it cleans up and shaves nicely for you.

Originally Posted by MattCastle

How is your 'guy' planning to fix the chip? Maybe regrind it into a shorter round point?

I think so, I' haven't heard back from him on the details. so far as I'm concerned, so long as that part can't cut me, its fine shaped how it is. I kinda want to keep the backstrap the same length so it matches the scales.

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

You better be damn careful unpinning and pinning that ivory! It wont take much as old and brittle as that is to crack apart, as a matter of fact it is not uncommon to find cracks in the pins of well cared for ivory. Good luck!

Originally Posted by Hirlau

I would not unpin it

seeing as I'm new to this, I think I'll take the latter advice. especially considering the former

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

That blade looks like most likely has a bone handle.

I was thinking Ivory rather than Bone simply because it looks more like the ivory piano keys we have than like the bones we used in A&P lab... could be either so far as I know. Any definitive way to tell?

Ivory doesn't have pores like those scales do, they would be much thinner, and most likely would not have collars on the pins. But, don't let that bother you, IMO, there's nothing like a good set of bone scales. Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

Originally Posted by chay2K

Ivory doesn't have pores like those scales do, they would be much thinner, and most likely would not have collars on the pins. But, don't let that bother you, IMO, there's nothing like a good set of bone scales. Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

ok, I'm not disappointed by them being bone, I just thought they were ivory. Does this mean they'll be less likely to break if I take them apart?

I'm not really looking to get a full restore done, but I just want to clean the gunk off the inside of the scales and remove the patina from the blade. Would "Barkeepers Friend" be ok to use on the blade?