Thread: Wostenholm with an odd grind

Any ideas why they grind only one side?

Certainly different! I'm not sure it's a microtome but I could easily be wrong about that. I bought a Joseph Allen that turned out to be a microtome a few years ago (took an Ebay risk). It was listed as a wedge and certainly appeared to be one until I put it to a hone. When examined closely it had a perfect wedge on one side and what could be described as a 1/2 hollow on the other. While interesting, it was not what I had been looking for so away it went into the "oddities" drawer. If I recall, I couldn't figure out how to sharpen it evenly because of the strange configuration.

My first impression after looking at your photo was that someone used a grinding attachment on a Dremmel and gave up after a concentrated first few passes along the top of the blade. But again, I could be very wrong about that - Void may be spot-on.

That said, a theory I subscribe to is that if a razor takes and holds an edge, and also shaves smoothly, I don't care what it's shape may be or how ugly/pretty is appears. That looks like it'll clean up nicely, so with a good honing and finish you may have a great shaver there!

Originally Posted by Lemur

Any ideas why they grind only one side?

Sometimes they did both sides.

Voidmonster that photo looks a lot like a few Torreys I still have. They take a serious edge! Much different from the pic in the OP though.

Thought I would give this a bump with a link to the restoration thread for the razor. I'm very happpy with the results.

Linky!