Thread: Salvageable razor?

Hey guys, first-time poster! Here's an old 4/8 Shaw's Verabest razor of mine and I was wondering if it's still restorable for long-term use:



As you can see, the spine shows some honing and the edge smiles about a millimeter on each end. The scale is also broken off behind the pivot, but I have some cocobolo to make new scales. Your recommendations?

Thanks!

Lotta hone, but there iss no way to tell until you lay to hone.

You mean something about the blade relative to the hone surface, or just sharpness?

I think he meant to say hone wear. I see no reason that it won't give good service. I've got some with more hone wear than that one that are good shavers. It can always be honed with a layer of tape or three to get the bevel closer to what it was originally as well.

Clean 'er up and go for it.
Willie

Should the smiling edge be left alone? It would be a shame to take off so much metal (unless I'm overestimating the damage), but at the same time it would feel really awkward maintaining someone else's clumsy honing job!

That it's had a lot of honing can mean it was a very good razor that the owner didn't want to retire.
The slight smile is desirable & was recommended in the 1961 barbering text advanced honing instructions but the hone wear on the stabiliser is questionable.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...t_-_Honing.pdf

I'd hone it first & see if it meets your needs.

I'd leave it if it was mine. That isn't much of smile at all.

I've got several smiling razors and they shave just fine.