Thread: 8/8+ W&B from eBay - are any of you gents the seller?

I picked this old girl up tonight:
Old Wade & Butcher Barbers Straight Razor 8/8+ Two Tone Scales | eBay
Are any of you gents the seller?

I plan to rescale it of course.

To you more experience restorers, do you see anything that would make you say yea or nea to a full restore on this one? If it's to be just a shaver, I'll restore it myself (I'm not so bad with utilitarian razors), but if I lean toward a full restore, I might send it out.

Please don't spare my fealings; I want your candid opinion.

I do not see any reason not to do full restore if you feel like it.

Bring it back to full glory!

Am I the only one here who likes that just the way it is, scales and all.

Originally Posted by Theseus

Am I the only one here who likes that just the way it is, scales and all.

I lean that way too other than the strip of wood in the replacement side. Whoever did the scales did a nice job. First thing I would do if I had that razor come to me would be metal polish on a paper towel and q-tip. Then I would hone it up and shave with it a bit. If I really liked the way it shaved and I couldn't live with the scales the way they are I would go for the added expense of having it rescaled. Enjoy it one way or the other.

Originally Posted by Theseus

Am I the only one here who likes that just the way it is, scales and all.

I like it as it is myself. I see a razor that somebody thought enough of to make a scale to replace one that got broken in order to keep it soldiering on. I'd think whoever re-scaled it used what he had at hand and used his skill to make the scale. Looks like he did a fine job of it too. You may never know who he was, or what circumstances he was in to have to do that way, but there is a bit of history there that he left for us to ponder.

IF it was mine, I'd hone it up and run it for a bit.

Nice looking Razor, Dave!

I like it and the history as well. Kindof neat to see it as it was done generations ago. At this point, I would leave it as-is. Very cool.

That blade could go either way with a restore. I like it a little cleaner, but HATE mirror finishes on them. perhaps a clean and light polish, and then an addition of a patina? As for the scales, the backside appears dyed horn. A good scrubbing, a good sanding, and a good polishing will have it looking glorious no doubt. Do similar to the wood, and create the kind of finish a long ago craftsman dreamed of for his beloved razor (which YOU now must carry on for)

It will look better than you believe. Try it before you truash them, nothihng to lose but a bit of time and sanding cloth!

I'll clean it up a bit and try it out first either way. I appreciate the work that went into fixing up the scales, but I think this kind of razor should be a little more of a anchor in the collection than the current shape of it. Assuming it can clean up OK. I guess it depends on what it looks like when it arrives.

Originally Posted by Magpie

I like it a little cleaner, but HATE mirror finishes on them.

Me too ! I'm not saying I like a bunch of red rust, devil's spit or pitting .... but honest patina that took 150 years to accumulate .... I'll take that over a shiny mirror finish on an antique razor any day.