Hess Forty-Four

Been looking for one of these for a while. Looks like the scales are toxic, which is a total bummer as they are not warped. Any suggestions who makes a good faux pearl scale material? Also need to figure out how to get the inlay to lay flush, my feeling is just many tedious hours.

Attachment 306896

It’s 6/8 with just the slightest edge damage towards the toe, hone wear is minimal and measures 13/16” overall. There is light devils spit but it should mostly scrape off with the slightest pitting left over.

I have one and it is an excellent shaver. Yours looks to be in very nice condition. What makes you think the scales are toxic?

Bob

Wouldnt be the first "Stainless" razor to show pitting when the scales went south. See post 487 https://sharprazorpalace.com/auction...-101-a-49.html

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Originally Posted by Magpie

Wouldnt be the first "Stainless" razor to show pitting when the scales went south. See post 487 https://sharprazorpalace.com/auction...-101-a-49.html

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Yes, that is a good or bad example, depending on how you are looking at it. I am not seeing any pitting on the OP's blade and that is why I was wondering why the scales are toxic.

Bob

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Originally Posted by BobH

Yes, that is a good or bad example, depending on how you are looking at it. I am not seeing any pitting on the OP's blade and that is why I was wondering why the scales are toxic.

Bob

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He did say it has devils spit, so I'm assuming the backside of the blade?

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Originally Posted by Magpie

He did say it has devils spit, so I'm assuming the backside of the blade?

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Oh hell, missed that. Still might be just from water and not the scales off gassing from cell rot.

Bob

Actually the back side is pretty clean, the stamp side has just the beginnings of it. I’m tempted to just do some light cleaning and stick it in the rotation so I can keep an eye on it.

Any one have experience with how fast stainless and celluloid react? I have some carbon steel blades that have shown a change in the amount of rot in as little as a month, I imagine stainless would resist it better but none the less it’s clearly cell rot.

I’ll try and get a close up of it in a bit.

I think the last time the pearl ice question came up Richard shared a link to acrylester. I bet google can fix you up.

Here’s a pic of it. There’s some tiny little pits with no rust up towards the toe but I couldn’t get a picture that showed it. Sorry for the odd picture but that was the best angle to get the spots to show.

Attachment 306904

I have had one for a couple of years, the scales have yet to do any cell rot!!!! But I will keep an eye on it

Yup, those scales are notorious for cell rot. It does look like the early stages of cell rot.

If you close the razor on the scales, you could probably pick up the pattern of the scales and match it to the pitting you are seeing on the blade near the edge and the spine.

I would unpin it to save the blade, take photos and a tracing of the scales and certainly not store it near any other razors. Once it kicks off fully it will eat any nearby steel. I have seen a single razor eat a whole display case of knives and razors in months.

Masecraft and Texas Knife Supply have some similar acrylics, but I think Glenn has done some in cracked ice a while ago.

Marty, have noticed if stainless blades stand a better chance? I’ve seen a thread concerning stainless and cell rot but can’t find it.

Edit:
Thanks magpie, looked back through this thread and found your link.

My 13/16 has G10 scales. Just like dubl-ducks, the scales rot and need replacing!