Thread: Is this worth salvaging?

Hello,

I just ordered my first straight from Whipped Dog... while waiting I picked up an old straight at the antique store. Should I have bought this? Is it worth sharpening?



Thanks!

It's always hard to say for sure from pics, but Wade & Butcher made some fine blades. From the pics, it looks like it isn't frowning and isn't chipped or cracked, so I'd be willing to bet it wouldn't be hard to turn into a great shaver. And if you decide not to, I'm sure there are plenty of folks here who wouldn't mind taking it off your hands.

Great find, and good luck with it!

It is steel sharpen it. It looks like it might have had some of the smile honed off but give it hand rubbing to remove the black stuff. Then look at the edge with magnification checking for small cracks or pitting at the edge. Then get out the stones and go to town. Really you might consider sending it to Glen gssixgun cause he could work miracles with that piece.

I have not seen a wedge or near wedge with shoulders before.
Could this be a re-grind?
Also the "point face" is interesting being angular rather than flat.

Originally Posted by bonitomio

I have not seen a wedge or near wedge with shoulders before.
Could this be a re-grind?
Also the "point face" is interesting being angular rather than flat.

IMHO I dont think it would have the etching on the blade face if it was a regrind.


I have two different Straights with the angular end like that, and I've seen it on quite a few french point razors.

Originally Posted by justinA

IMHO I dont think it would have the etching on the blade face if it was a regrind.


I have two different Straights with the angular end like that, and I've seen it on quite a few french point razors.

Yep I agree with your point about the etching. I should have considered that.
Still its strange that a wedge type razor would "need" a stabilizer.

Thanks for the info on your razors with the "angular point faces"

Originally Posted by bonitomio

Yep I agree with your point about the etching. I should have considered that.
Still its strange that a wedge type razor would "need" a stabilizer.

Thanks for the info on your razors with the "angular point faces"

The stabilizer does seem excessive, my fidour near wedge is slightly less ground than this without a shoulder and it is miles stiffer than even a half hollow with shoulders.

No problem about the point face, I think its fairly common you just dont always see them from the front.

Aha, I just found this on an old completed ebay listing. This must be what it looked like before someone ground the hell out of it.

Yours is in better shape than that one, it just looks like someone may have already cleaned yours up at some point, which would lighten the etch when removing metal to clean off rust.

Those W&B Bow razors are not a wedge. They are a very stiff ground hollow & the few I've seen all had the diamond point nose.
If the pile side looks as good as the side we can see it should hone up fine. The slightly irregular spine wear shouldn't be too much of a challenge.