Thread: Tapered blade?

I got an old W&B Special in a $10 lot of eBay razors. I'd love to hone the sucker up and sell it to a newbie, but I'm concerned about the blade.

It tapers from the heel to the toe, maybe as much as 1/8. The hone wear looks pretty even to me, so I'm wondering if any razors were ever designed with a tapered blade.

If it's just a really bad hone job, do you think it's possible to get it shaving again? Would a tapered blade pose any dangers?

Josh

Yesterday was the best day to find another something to do...

I've got a couple Joseph Elliots that taper that way, and they're in very good condition.

A number of sheffield razors were made that way, but I can't recall that I've ever seen a W&B with a tapered blade. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if they made one like a lot of the other Sheffield razor companies did, though. They were the most prolific of the bunch and there are enough different Wade and Butcher blades to fill a very sizeable reference book (a reference book that, unfortunately, hasn't been written by anyone yet).

I've got a W&B faux-frameback with a wider toe than heel, and the wedge blade has different tapers at the heel and toe. There's no spine wear to indicate that its from overhoning, and the bevel is the same size at both ends of the blade. Great shaver though - it's my best shaving sheffield.

I have somewhere at work a Gercutico like this I got in a lot. Thought it's from overuse, but now I think I remember the hone wear was even... Have to check on this...

I have a very old razor that tapers from heal to toe (narrow at the heal) that I use for historical re-enacting, I believe it dates to the rev war

Dave