Thread: Reunion and Peace Wostenholm

I found this Geo Wostenholm & Sons IXL razor the other day and just had to buy it to play with. It is a heavy smiling wedge about a 7/8 and will need some work but what I really liked was the etching on the blade. The etch is really light and I will not attemp to clean the crud from around it, but will leave that to someone that is better at it than me.

The etch (I know it is a poor pic) is " Reunion And Peace" in a ribbon pattern across the blade. Not too much wear but some pitting out on the toe. Looks like the edge will clean up nicely.

Thoughts anyone?

That will make a nice shaver after some work. Maybe you can find someone to fix the original scales. That type looks best in them!
I wonder if there is something which will bring out the etch? That would be nice! Is it a frosted type etch, or can you feel it with your fingernail?

I had a Frederick Reynolds with a nice etch that was spotted in a few places as yours is. I don't think there is anything that can be done to restore it. I did take a No2 lead pencil and used the lead to polish the pitted areas. It made the blade slightly more presentable.

Here's a before of old snaggle tooth,


and an after,

It is a must to leave those old etches alone. If you buff them off, they are gone forever! Looky at the bevel on Wullies! Think it won't shave?

Originally Posted by sharptonn

It is a must to leave those old etches alone. If you buff them off, they are gone forever! Looky at the bevel on Wullies! Think it won't shave?

THAT is a smooth shaving old SOB. I finished it on a 12k Naniwa and it was a bit harsh for a few shaves, after stropping several times, it mellowed out and runs great. LOL

Only had FOUR layers of tape of it when I honed it. LMAO

Originally Posted by Wullie

THAT is a smooth shaving old SOB. I finished it on a 12k Naniwa and it was a bit harsh for a few shaves, after stropping several times, it mellowed out and runs great. LOL

Only had FOUR layers of tape of it when I honed it. LMAO

4 layers, eh? You must own stock in 3M.

Thanks for the feedback guys. Wullie I had thought about using a pencil and now I might give that a try and see what it will do. Yours looks great and it really brought it out.

In any case I won't do anything to further reduce the etch. I have a really nice Clauss USMC razor and that etch is just about as light. I would love to learn of something that could bring the etches back on some of these grand old blades.

Will N.

Originally Posted by sharptonn

That will make a nice shaver after some work. Maybe you can find someone to fix the original scales. That type looks best in them!
I wonder if there is something which will bring out the etch? That would be nice! Is it a frosted type etch, or can you feel it with your fingernail?

I can make some new scales for it and I think the dark horn would look best myself. The etch is frosted and cannot be felt with my nail. You can tell that there is something there and can see it in the right light. My eyes are not quite as good as they once were, my son was able to just pick it up and read it.

I was just speaking to a friend about this razor when he said that from the etching this must have been made just after the war between the states. Of Course it was!!! I had not even thought of that I am sorry to say. Thanks Mr. Moose.

Will N.

Originally Posted by WillN

Thanks for the feedback guys. Wullie I had thought about using a pencil and now I might give that a try and see what it will do. Yours looks great and it really brought it out.

In any case I won't do anything to further reduce the etch. I have a really nice Clauss USMC razor and that etch is just about as light. I would love to learn of something that could bring the etches back on some of these grand old blades.

Will N.

It might be easier to refresh the etch on the Clauss than the Wostenholm. If you look at the etches, you 'll see that they were done backwards from each other. On the Clauss, the the blade was covered with the resist material except for the USMC letters which were etched into the steel by the acid. On the Wostenholm the letters and the border were covered with the resist material and the background was etched by the acid leaving the frosted background.

I'd bet there are some companies out there that can bring out the USMC if you wanted to go that route.

Personally, I'd run 'er as she is. She's earned her stripes and ain't ready to retire just yet.