It looks like rot to me by the residue of 'stuff' in the scales. I had a Wester Bros Manganese Steel that began to rot and there were puddles of a liquid looking substance on the inside of the scales. The back side looks like it is beginning to show the corrosive effects. As for the 'shaving' mug ........ looks like an old coffee cup with a puck of soap in it to me. $24.00 is about $23.00 too much IMHO.