Thread: Antique Store Gambles

I visited three antique stores and took a gamble on these items.


The Swaty looks like it's toast now that I have ran it under some water. I'm hopeful the W & B is salvageable. It looks like the etching depicted Daniel Webster before it was honed away.

Two out of three ain't bad. The razor may clean up enough to use yourself. But the mug and stone are OK.

The Old Spice mug cleaned up well and now houses a puck of Tabac.
The barber hone has crumbling edges, pale spots, and a marks that appear to be from bread-knifing. I might see if the local barber shop wants it for their old barber tools display.


One of the places I visited had a Koken barber chair, which I had seen on their website, and I had hoped I would come across a cache of barber supplies. No such luck. A couple of brushes and the chair were the only barber items they had.

Can anyone point me to a nice example of a Danile Webster W & B so I can compare?

Can that stone be lapped? Can it be salvaged for use? The razor certainly looks suitable for a restore. Good find.

Originally Posted by wayne394

Can that stone be lapped? Can it be salvaged for use? The razor certainly looks suitable for a restore. Good find.

I'm doubtful the hone can be saved. The pics don't show half of the damage. It looks like someone was using it to sharpen an ax or other tool often found with a chipped edge.

That W&B is a nice catch IMO, might consider sending it out to have some pro restoration work done on it...I understand there's a few guys on this site who can make a razor look almost new again!

Nice big Sheffield, would be great to see that back in the line again - good haul!

For sure the razor can have a re-grind and scales and be used. I had some re-worked and they turned out good. the stone can also be lapped and used. if you use the DMT325 you stand a chance of causing bare spots on in the diamond plate. a flat space as a granite counter top or flat tile can be used with wet dry sand paper of 220 then maybe higher grit to finish the surface. I removed a large chip in one of mine the ordered a new DMT325.

That W&B Daniel Webster is very nice, I was looking around for you and found this, another W&B with Daniel Webster etched on the blade, check it out:

It looks like a match, Phrank.

Above his head it says "I still live" which were Webster's last words. His name is below the portrait. I think it's safe to say the razor was produced between 1852 and 1891.

Originally Posted by Leatherstockiings

It looks like a match, Phrank.

Above his head it says "I still live" which were Webster's last words. His name is below the portrait. I think it's safe to say the razor was produced between 1852 and 1891.

Very interesting, lucked out and found only one mention, seems a hard one to find, going to have to read up on this individual. Do you think you can salvage or preserve the etch?