I'm calling it my Waffle razor...

I saw this... whatever it is... on Ebay UK listed in the straight razor section and decided I had to have it. I'm not sure if it was originally meant to be a razor but then I don't know what else it might be. I am calling it my "waffle" razor because of the carved scales.

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I've never seen its like before so I assume it might be some prototype/experiment, or maybe not a razor at all but then what could it be? There are no maker marks that I can find so tracking down any info on it will probably be difficult. The blade is a shade over 10/8, like by a 32nd, at the end so it is the widest razor I have ever had. The blade has a lovely hollow grind so I imagine it can't be that old, maybe late 1800s, and the steel blade feels really good.

The scales really puzzle me because they are solid in the middle; the edge of the blade closes inside the groove but I don't understand why the scales are so big and round if the entire blade was never meant to sit inside. Also I am not sure if the edge will be any good after storage because at least the tip of the blade hits on the inside of the scales when closed, seems like a very bad design flaw, maybe one reason why this never caught on. The material does appear to be ivory, carved in an unusual checkered pattern and with silver pins in the little pyramids. The pivot point and "wedge" running down the back of the scales does look to be silver. I used a bit of Maas to polish the blade and pivot and the pivot/spine gave off a very black tarnish on the rag just like silverware.

I did hone it but only got maybe three-quarters of an inch of the edge from the point to be shave-ready. I didn't want to try and force a bevel along the entire length of the blade especially since the heel is not usable as I had to grip it there to keep it open while honing and shaving. It was pretty awkward to use since the razor only opens 180 degrees so I had to treat it like a kamisori and the scales did get in the way. I only shaved a cheek and part of my neck and it did pop hairs off but it was just too unwieldy with those massive scales in the way.

I will just keep it as a shaving curiosity but if anyone else has seen something similar please let me know, thanks!

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More, higher res photos can be found in this imgur album: Waffle razor - Album on Imgur

Some examples of really really razors look at least similar to the shadow of this blade, never seen scales like it though. My guess looking at it would be that maybe it is an old blade but someone put new scale on it quite possibly late 1800's. This is only a guess though others may chip in with something factual.

Every age has an Andy Warhol?

Very cool shaver; great find.

There is a old razor at the Victoria and Abert Museum from Napal that lools just like that minus the extravagant scales. Nice find

Interesting curiosity you picked up. Someone went to a fair amount of trouble to do those scales. Nice find.

Bob

I like it. That might be fun to shave with. Looks like a form of cane knife or something else used in the fields. The hollow grind though is quite interesting.

Interesting find

Very interesting. my first thought was a scraper until I saw it had a hollow grind! What a very unique piece. I love it!

That is a very interesting find, congrats on that!

I am guessing that the scales are made that way to offset the balance of that massive blade. How is the balance, by the way?

that looks like a real version of all those listed rusty things on ebay , if you know what im talking about !! nice grab ..

Hi, The razor is similar to many razors sold as antique Asian and also from India. The only difference is the fancy rescale. One I bought in tough condition has surprisingly good steel...car spring?
The honing and shave will tell the story.
That is cool piece!
Do a site search for Asian razor, there are some photos.
~Richard

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Originally Posted by LexTac

That is a very interesting find, congrats on that!

I am guessing that the scales are made that way to offset the balance of that massive blade. How is the balance, by the way?

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The balance was okay, the scales might in fact be so large to act as a counterbalance to the big blade. The main trouble was keeping the blade open because the pivot is a bit loose and there's no tail to rest a finger and place pressure. While honing the blade I wrapped some electrical tape around the pivot to help keep it open but that wasn't strictly necessary because the blade stays open anyway while doing edge-leading strokes since the blade can't go beyond 180 degrees.

Stropping was a different story because I had taken all the electrical tape off at that point (had it over the spine to prevent honewear and some on the big blade face to prevent any inadvertent scratches) and while doing the spine-leading strokes on the strop I had to keep my thumb on the heel of the blade which did pinch a bit.

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Originally Posted by Geezer

Hi, The razor is similar to many razors sold as antique Asian and also from India. The only difference is the fancy rescale. One I bought in tough condition has surprisingly good steel...car spring?
The honing and shave will tell the story.
That is cool piece!
Do a site search for Asian razor, there are some photos.
~Richard

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I know the Asian/Indian razors you are talking about, I see them on Ebay all the time however I don't think this looks anything like them.

Looks like Nike made the scales back in the early 70's with the waffle iron that they used for the prototype soles.

Whoever made it did a lot of work! Now on my desktop I can see the pinning of the scales and a bretter view of the grind. A nice catch you have made!
~Richard

So THAT is a waffle razor! WOW! ;)

Very interesting and unique. Great find!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Geezer

Whoever made it did a lot of work! Now on my desktop I can see the pinning of the scales and a bretter view of the grind. A nice catch you have made!
~Richard

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It is indeed an intricate piece!!!:tu