Thread: A few questions about a razor I picked up

As I am new to straight razor shaving (started with disposable blades) I am getting ready to purchase a new razor, strop, hones and so forth. I have been hitting the flea markets to pick up a few razors to restore and practice honing. I have picked up a J.R. Torrey and the one below in the pictures. It is obviously Sheffield steel, it was a decent price a $10 and I did not think too much about it until I un-pinned it to start cleaning it up. There are saw marks on the inside of the scales, I heated up a pin to cherry and it does not melt or smoke when touched to the scale. I ran a razor blade across the inside of the scales and it scrapes does not curl like plastic, upon closer inspection it appears to have a very tight fine grain but you have to look very closely to see it. The overall finish on the razor was not of a quality I would expect to find Ivory on. Does anyone know the actual make of this razor from the stamp? Are there any other tests to see if this is ivory?
Thanks to all
and thank you for the wealth of information on the forum.

There were many razor makers in Sheffield in the 1800s. Some were juggernauts, like Wade & Butcher, and other were not much more than cottage industries. It is difficult to put a maker's name to it. Judging from the photos, the scales are almost certainly made of bone. I really like Sheffield razors and yours should make a good shaver once it is properly honed. Welcome to the forum and don't hesitate to ask any questions you might have.

Regards - Walt

Welcome!

Congratulations on you're first un-pinning! Mine didn't go so well!

Let us know how your restoration goes! I've only cleaned up several razor none of them a total restore! Just light cleaning and polishing. I actually use a variable speed hand drill to do the polishing. Nothing Fancy, but it works and it allows me to control the speed that the wheel turns at! With that said: I don't have mirror finished razors and I'm not looking for that, just some nice cleaned up razors!

A case in point: My former Boy Scout Master gave me several razors (Including his fathers) I cleaned and polished on them and when they were to where I has pleased with them I honed them then took a couple back to him to see. When he saw them he exclaimed; "You can see what it says now!" (He was referring to one that had etching on the blade)

Welcome to the Most Friendly, Helpful and Informative Site on the Web!

Smooth Shaving!

Welcome to SRP!!! Good job on the descale. Bone scales are brittle and one miswack will break them. Be very carefull when repinning and use many light taps and be sure to support the backside of the pin without letting any part of the scale touch the anvil or whatever you will use to support the pin. If the scale touches it will surely break. Great bunch of people on this forum and be sure to ask questions and keep us posted on your progress. Best, wildhog