Thread: Saving a Stub Tail

I picked this stubtail up off of the bay maybe 10 to 15 years ago. Had the chip in the blade and some of the scale broken off. When I learned to hone I asked a more experienced member about breadknifing the chip out and he suggested that there wouldn't be "enough left" to make a good shaver. So it became a wall hanger.

Almost 6 years down the road I took the razor and with one piece of electrical tape began doing circles on a DMT D8C 325. I went in increments of one hundred circles per side with the spine, protected by the tape, on the plate. Took 1,000 circles with very light pressure to get it to the point where I had enough of the chip gone to begin on the chosera 1k.

You can see on the paper towel where I kept track of all the steps in the procedure. I did a bunch of circles and X strokes on the chosera and at the point where I felt the bevel was adaquate I went to a La Veinette coticule. I figured the old razor should be finalized on a rock that was at least older than it.

So 200 X strokes and stropping later I got an absolutely great shave out of the old thing. In the past I've breadknifed a couple and never will again. It is pay me now or with breadknifing pay me later. I'd rather take the time and get it out flat than spend the time after breadknifing. YMMV.

What's it say above WARRANTED? I can't quite make it out.

It's a beautiful thing to see that old razor go back on the line to shave.

A great job indeed!

Originally Posted by Voidmonster

What's it say above WARRANTED? I can't quite make it out.

I'm not home right now so I'll letcha know ASAP.

Also? Whatever bug convinced you to get that one shaving must be contagious! Yesterday I pulled this one out of my to-do pile, honed it up and shaved with it. Not the world's most even bevel, but that's hardly to be expected from a 200 (well, 199) year old razor...



It's maybe 5-10 years younger than yours, Jimmy, but not too far off in terms of style. It also provided a shave every bit as good (even if completely different) to those Heljestrand MK31's.

nice razor !!
i had a blade with a good ding in it that i thought 1k was gonna work .. hours later and not even a dent i ran out a bought a norton 220 .. hours later a slight diff... then i went to the dmt 325 and hundreds of circles later it was gone to the point of going back to the 1k ... that was my first major chip removal and hopefully the last ..lol..

i still have a razor i need to finish that i took a frown out of , but i tried it with little to no experience at the time and it burned me out , so every once and awhile i grab it again and look at it , maybe one day ill finish it ..lol

great job on that beautiful razor !!

Originally Posted by Voidmonster

What's it say above WARRANTED? I can't quite make it out.

Looks like Roberts maybe? Is the coloration in the horn a result of age or just unusual coloring? It looks neat.

I don't know about the coloration but it is beautiful. Here is a pic of the tang stamp. As you can see it is partial and difficult to make out. It appears to read "BLATA" but the first two letters are only half showing and the rest is ambiguous.

It could be a Roberts. The R and O are missing. The B is visible. The upper two extensions are missing from the E making it look like an L. The top of the R is missing causing it to look like an A. The T is visible. And the S is indefinable and could be mistaken for an A. So whaddaya think?

Regards - Walt