Anyone ever seen a Shapleigh Diamond Edge like this?

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I nabbed this from eBay for a song. The seller had very unclear pictures, but I noticed the spinework and pounced.

There's more hone wear than I'd like and at 5/8 it's a bit smaller than my preference, but I think this is going to clean up to be a really neat razor.

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The gold wash is going to be annoying to try and clean up. Most of it's gone already. At first I was afraid the blade had been held over a flame because of the strange discoloration, then then I saw the tip and the remnant gold.
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First things first though, this sucker gets taped and honed! If it won't take an edge, there's no point in restoring it.

Go ahead and restore it first, despite the wear it will still take an edge.

Yes! it looks familiar!;)

Tom, if that's your's, that's damn nice!

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Originally Posted by nun2sharp

Tom, if that's your's, that's damn nice!

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Thanks and yes, it's mine. I bought it lots of years ago and have not seen another, til now! Looks like his scale inlay is better than mine. That thick goofy wedge is original! Mine is the same. Unusual feature! Neither one of us got a real good pic of the spine. I says Shapleigh! I am positive it looks cast-in. These scales are prone to rot and drying out. I soak in silicone on occasion. Looks like it's time again! Neat!

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

Thanks and yes, it's mine. I bought it lots of years ago and have not seen another, til now! Looks like his scale inlay is better than mine. That thick goofy wedge is original! Mine is the same. Unusual feature! Neither one of us got a real good pic of the spine. I says Shapleigh! I am positive it looks cast-in. These scales are prone to rot and drying out. I soak in silicone on occasion. Looks like it's time again! Neat!

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Aha! It is indeed the same! And yeah, the spine work is why I got it. I've coveted those fancy worked-back Solingen blades ever since seeing one in person. The blade on yours looks near-mint! Did you do any cleanup on it?

Also, I bet if you take a cotton swab and some Maas/Mothers/metal polish, you could get the scale inlay looking pristine. :)

Na, it's rubbed off and gone! Funny how things take different paths after manufacture. Climate, wear, someone trying to clean/preserve all make different patina on these razors. I have to soak the scales (3m wet type) and rub some rust pits on the blade. What we do for love!

Nice razors fellas.

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

Na, it's rubbed off and gone! Funny how things take different paths after manufacture. Climate, wear, someone trying to clean/preserve all make different patina on these razors. I have to soak the scales (3m wet type) and rub some rust pits on the blade. What we do for love!

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Aw, that's too bad about the inlay. I was looking at the post on my phone, from there it looked like just tarnish.

I often think about the wear I see on razors. Specifically that common black line where the scales touch the blade while closed. Did that happen because the last time someone used the razor they just didn't have the get-up-and-go to take care of it anymore? Am I seeing the long, slow slide into mortality as a physical mark on these blades? Or is it just carelessness. I have to assume it's some of both. But I regularly think about how these things were cared for before I got them.

This Shapleigh is the newest razor I've got (well, except for the Dubl Duck SatinWedge in quarantine -- cell rot, as it seems all of them in the original scales have), so I think about this stuff kind of a lot. :)

Might try rubbing that scale insert with a bit of damp baking soda and the end of your finger. Cleans coins nicely and doesn't scratch 'em up.