Wade & Butcher India Steel

Just received my Wade&Butcher razor. As far as I understand it is pre 1890, as the stamp has no mention of 'England'. Anyways, as this is my first vintage razor, moreover my first razor which is not a Dovo, I am still trying to figure out how to approach this animal:)
Below are the snaps done by the seller and because they do justice, I decided to use them here. There is almost no hone wear, just as much as on my brand new Dovo razors that were pro-sharpened by the vendors. The blade itself is quite shiny, but does not seem to be polished. It looks like the razor was not used much at all. Bevel on both sides is quite narrow and even in width on both sides. Scales seem to be wood, but I am not sure at all... did they use wood for scales back then, or only horn??
The pin which holds the blade is tight when I move the blade all the way up, but holding the scales with blade down causes it to open up. I don't know if this is normal, but with a heavy blade like this I guess it is.
Third, I am trying to understand if this is a near wedge or not. Opinions on this will be much appreciated.

And finally, when I put it down on the hone (I did not hone yet, just put it on the stone) the blade touches the stone along the entire edge, so I guess rolling x is not needed here. Any tips, links to videos or other material in regards to honing this blade will also be much appreciated.
Thank you!!!):) I am excited at the prospect of shaving with a legendary instrument like this which is at least 123 yo. (seller says it is from 1860-70)



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You've got yourself a fine looking razor there! The scales are most likely horn on that beauty. Hone it up and enjoy :)

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Originally Posted by Catrentshaving

You've got yourself a fine looking razor there! The scales are most likely horn on that beauty. Hone it up and enjoy :)

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Thanks! I really like them too. Any tips on honing it? Things I would regret doing:))))?

Because there is a smile to the blade, the rolling x stroke is probably the way you'll want to go:)

I have a few of these razors myself, each is in my rotation. The are made of excellent period steel, set to a proper temper. The wedge grind is going to be a nice variation from your likely hollow dovos. This is a great razor... Enjoy it!

That is wicked beautiful, enjoy. Honing -- tape it, try the magic marker test, be prepared to put on a second layer of tape. You'll almost certainly need to learn a good rolling-x stroke, likely with a heel-leading "swoop" besides.

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Originally Posted by stimpy52

That is wicked beautiful, enjoy. Honing -- tape it, try the magic marker test, be prepared to put on a second layer of tape. You'll almost certainly need to learn a good rolling-x stroke, likely with a heel-leading "swoop" besides.

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Thanks! regarding the rolling x-stroke: isn't that only for blades that can not stay flat on the hone, and you have to roll the pressure to ensure the edge comes in contact with the stone at all points?

That razor is awesome! I really want one now, I just won a 7/8 WnB india steel but I really love this one, love the deep stamp along the spine and the scales too.

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Originally Posted by Cros

Thanks! regarding the rolling x-stroke: isn't that only for blades that can not stay flat on the hone, and you have to roll the pressure to ensure the edge comes in contact with the stone at all points?

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The rolling X stroke will keep it smiling, as it should be.

Beautiful razor, take Your time with it.
Before You hone it, I would check how sharp it actually is. The vendor's pictues show it laying on a stone with some slurry, so it might actually be honed and ready to use.
If it is not obviously dull, strop it and try to shave with it in order to see what You actually got there. This is an old, historic blade in a great state and any metal that You unnecessarily take off is wasted.

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Originally Posted by Cros

... regarding the rolling x-stroke: isn't that only for blades that can not stay flat on the hone, and you have to roll the pressure to ensure the edge comes in contact with the stone at all points?

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You've got a smiling edge there and contact with the stone alone is only one thing. Another aspect is the angle between edge and stone. with a straight straight :) You can pull the blade along the stone and from left to right the edge hits the stone with the same angle.
With a simling edge however each mm of the edge hits the stone in a different angle. In order to compensate for that, You will need the rolling-x, where only a fraction of the edge touches the stone at a time, combined with a "whipe" by which each of these fractions hits the stone in the same angle.

Ugh...that sounds complicated! Not to hijack this thread, but I hope my SRP LE razor which is also a smiling edge isn't that complicated to hone!

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Originally Posted by Attila

Ugh...that sounds complicated! Not to hijack this thread, but I hope my SRP LE razor which is also a smiling edge isn't that complicated to hone!

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actually it is not. If You go slow, watch, listen and try to understand, it turns out to be the natural motion for these kind of razors.

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Originally Posted by DDTech

actually it is not. If You go slow, watch, listen and try to understand, it turns out to be the natural motion for these kind of razors.

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gssixgun has a video on youtube demonstrating a method to hone a smiling blade without the rolling x-stroke. Is there actual experience using this over the rolling x and what are the results?
I don't quite get the rolling x and I am afraid I will ruin the edge by lifting the blade off the hone...