Thread: One of a thousand?

Has anyone else discovered a one in a "one in a thousand" razor?

I tossed a low bid on a plain jane Torrey. I wanted to have some test fodder. When it arrived the blade took very little cleaning but it had
obviously been abused. One side of the toe has been up against a belt sander at sometime. The evidence was very clear from the deep scratches
and the rainbow hue of the steel. Ground upon and overheated but not dead as the perpetrator had stopped before going more than 3/8".

So without guilt it has been my honing guinea pig. The surprise is this Torrey 0146(from the blade etch) is the sharpest razor I have.

I still haven't been able to get the toe sharp and without having it cut off or grinding the razor beyond too thin it isn't going to happen.
The rest of the blade takes an edge it seems just by asking. The Crox and leather bring it to the smoothest shaving steel I have experienced until
some recent developments and experiments in progress.


So since I have other Torreys and other razors none of which come off the leather with such a smooth shaving sweet edge what gives?

Did the damage to the heat treat benefit the rest of the blade? Is this some legendary Excalibur? Has anyone else come upon a blade
which is so remarkable it jumps out from all the rest?

How does this happen?

I think that the answer is experience. I have found [and have heard from others] that the last one I did is the best.

You probably held your tongue just right as did the guys who ground & forged the razor. For certain you set a good bevel

Well to be clear I have breadknifed this razor and done several levels of tape no tape experiments and experiments with different stones. It has been broken down and redone numerous times. This razor was one of my first to see stones so My tongue must be hanging in the right place as a matter of habit. I just used my latest finisher on it tonight and once again the mojo is working. ??????

If your theory about heat treating is correct, this one should be wonderful.

I just had to get this one. It was $1 and 15% off. 85 cents! I am wondering if it was plugged into an outlet?? There is also a crack near the blue on the blade and on the other side the wedge pin has a crack close in the scale. I think it is a J. Rodgers because there is a slight remnant of a Maltese cross on the tang that has been ground on. I can shorten the blade and then the scales and have a razor for 85 cents. Plus all my work!

I bet my honing will be great!

Tim

P.S. As I was taking this picture a couple of young guys were out for what I suspect was 420. They saw what I was doing and showed interest. If they remember, I might have found a couple of new guys.

Originally Posted by 32t

If your theory about heat treating is correct, this one should be wonderful.

I bet my honing will be great!

Tim

Wow that one should be destined for the bay..."one of a thousand vintage near minty rare very sought after Prototype?" buy it now $895

They could've smoked enough to put down an elephant, but no one's forgetting that blade I'm afraid.

Originally Posted by 32t

If your theory about heat treating is correct, this one should be wonderful.

I just had to get this one. It was $1 and 15% off. 85 cents! I am wondering if it was plugged into an outlet?? There is also a crack near the blue on the blade and on the other side the wedge pin has a crack close in the scale. I think it is a J. Rodgers because there is a slight remnant of a Maltese cross on the tang that has been ground on. I can shorten the blade and then the scales and have a razor for 85 cents. Plus all my work!

I bet my honing will be great!

Tim

P.S. As I was taking this picture a couple of young guys were out for what I suspect was 420. They saw what I was doing and showed interest. If they remember, I might have found a couple of new guys

A couple of hits on the Norton 8/12 and she'll be good to go !