Thread: Question from Newbie about Platoff & Blucher Razor

Hi out there in razor land. Can anyone tell me about this razor? I have not touched it. The scales are a bit bent inwards so it doesn't close up snugly. Do I clean it - what are the scales made of? Does anyone know the history or maker? There is the word "arrant" visible on the blade - I think this may have been Warranty or Warranteed.

Thanks in advance

Tim

Afraid I can't help you there, but I'm sure one of the senior members will be able to. Is there any writing on the tang/shank at all? That might help them ID it.

Oh, and from your name, I take it you're from New Zealand? If so, what part? I'm a Dunedin lad myself.

That horozontal picture (top left) looks like it says "warranted," and based on the style of the blade and the straight scales, you've definitely got yoursely a very old blade. Might have had a light regrind, but I wouldn't put money on it. Early 1800's or late 1700's? Others would know better than I.

I gotta go with H4P on the age, and on the text.

If you look really closely, you can see some shadowing of other letters before and after, and that first A suggests that there has been wear to the lettering also. Plus, "Warranted" was a very common thing to see stamped on a razor.


As for the age, I'm going by the tail. More to the point, the lack of a tail. Most newer razors have a longer tail on them, but that one has a "stub tail."

Originally Posted by mosley59

Afraid I can't help you there, but I'm sure one of the senior members will be able to. Is there any writing on the tang/shank at all? That might help them ID it.

Oh, and from your name, I take it you're from New Zealand? If so, what part? I'm a Dunedin lad myself.

Thanks - no other writing - there is a decorative band of engraved lines before the blade starts but no other writing.

I am in Wellington, New Zealand - Hi to snowy Dunedin

Originally Posted by VeeDubb65

I gotta go with H4P on the age, and on the text.

If you look really closely, you can see some shadowing of other letters before and after, and that first A suggests that there has been wear to the lettering also. Plus, "Warranted" was a very common thing to see stamped on a razor.


As for the age, I'm going by the tail. More to the point, the lack of a tail. Most newer razors have a longer tail on them, but that one has a "stub tail."

Do you have any idea about straightening out the scales? - is these made from bone or a bone composite - they are partly see through. Or do I leave them as is?

I'd guess the scales are horn. The way I know of to reshape/straighten horn is to apply neatsfoot oil (enough to make the scales flexible) and then wedge them to their proper shape (you can stick in toothpicks or some such, sometimes coins work well) or clamp them into the position you want and wait for them to dry.

I seem to recall seeing something else involving boiling water. It might be in the Wiki...

+1 for horn on those scales. Definitely NOT bone. Could be tortois, hard to tell from the photo, but I'm leaning heavily towards horn as well.

As far as straightening them, do like the man says and check the wiki. Beyond that, it's WAY over my head.


I will say this: Those are some very old, and very nice looking scales. Anything you do to "restore" them is going to carry risk of destroying them. So, just be sure that whatever you do, you do it with your eyes open, and well away that they may not survive.