Thread: project razors and some questions

Picked up two project razors. The first is a Wade and Butcher pre 1891 as I can find no country stamp. I believe the scales are original by the look of the washers. The question is: has anyone seen one with a notch in the scales matched to the notch in the blade? Secondly is the scale notching factory original or done after? If it is original then the answer to why a barbers notch in the blade might have an answer.





The second one is a heavier grind razor with "Silver King" on the blade and tang marked CAMERON over CUTLER over EDINBURGH. No country marking that I can find and no manufacturers stamp either. Anyone have an idea who the maker was?



Thanks

Bob

Just compared the Silver King to a Frederick Reynolds that I have and they seem close to identical. So I may have answered my own question on that one.

Bob

Nice project razors! I haven't seen any other razors w/ the notch in the scales so I am guessing that it was put in by the owner. It does make sense in aiding the one hand opening. I'm surprised I haven't seen more customizing of the razors being that they were so widely used in the past. When I restore and/or hone used vintage razors I try to keep the original characteristics as possible. In some I can see how the changes to the edge shape like a smiling edge or one where the toe is honed back a bit would aide in the shave. Good luck with your restores!

Thanks, I am going to need lots of luck.

Bob

Got the Silver King cleaned up and honed. I bread knifed the chips out of the edge. It was a bear to hone for some reason but I finally found a combination of different strokes that finally worked. I was rewarded by a very nice 3 pass shave this morning.

The W&B blade is cleaned up and the horn scales soaked in Neats Foot Oil but I have to find some domed washers to fit it all back together. Can anyone tell me if these are available anywhere? If I can find large enough brass washer locally I may take a stab at making my own domed washer if all else fails.

Bob

In the future, I'd recommend leaving out the "breadknifing" step. The chips can be honed out in the normal honing process, saving steel, and not making the following honing so burdensome. It might take a little longer that way, but no steel is wasted and the process is much more enjoyable.

Thanks Ace, will do next time and I am sure there will be a next time. This is getting addicting.

Bob