Recent purchase, not what I was expecting!

Just opened up my most recent purchase. It was a no picture sale on eBay, but a very detailed description. I didn't bid right away, but watched it and how no one else was bidding. As the final minutes were coming to a close, I put up the first bid and won the razor. Well, here it is. Seems it has a fair deal of hone wear, but that shouldn't effect its shaving ability. Afraid to clean it up for fear of ruining the etching in the blade. What are your thoughts?

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It's a nice grab, Jack. I would break out the Mothers and start polishing, then hone her up. That etching looks pretty deep, I would not worry.
Thanks for sharing it.

I love the old etched blades, and refuse to buff them up with anything other than a hand polishing. Who needs shiny when you have class and character!

hone and shave I say! :gl:

It appears that the blade has been honed into the etch...so I'd suggest that it is a toss up as to buffing/polishing it, or just honing.

Looks like it should be a nice shaver!

Yeah, unfortunately is has been honed into the etching. You have a really good point there. I guess this makes it a matter of preference...

I'm fairly sure that if you lay that edge along a straight surface, you're going to see at least a bit of a frown. I hate frowns -- unless I'm looking at my face. Mostly I hate honing them. You've got quite a bit a hone wear and a frown to deal with on the stones. Have fun.

Lest it go unsaid, never bid-or-buy on description, alone. You've ended-up with a what, 5/8" blade? where the etching is already compromised by over-honing. The poor quality of the edge is apparent in your photos, and getting it "shave ready" will only worsen the etching and further reduce the blade. Magical thinking is fine, as long as it remains in one's mind; it's when we act on it that we run into trouble. This is a fine example of "trouble". I hope the price paid was not expensive; neither monetarily, nor in ego.

... O.o???

Doesnt look to bad to me clean and hone and report back ! the etching looks great!

Alrighty roo! Step number two...

Polished and honed, took an edge like a champ. I must have taken some poor pictures because there was no frown of any sort. The bevel did rise a little more into the etching, but it was already pushed into before I started.

I didn't do a deep restore for fear of ruining what is left of the etching. I kinda like the aged look on this one. Even if it was a mirror finish the hone wear would still show its legacy, why hide it? Am I right?

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i bought a IXL George Wostenholm a month ago and the blade looked great but the celluloid scales had chunk out of them. If you polish too much, you can lose the etchings, but you did fine. Your scales look okay from what I can see. I had Glen Mercurio of GemstarCustoms replace my scales and restore the razor. He buffed away the etchings, but the razor shaves and looks great.

Have you shaved with yours yet?

I think it looks good ---- full of character.

--james

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lindyhop66

i bought a IXL George Wostenholm a month ago and the blade looked great but the celluloid scales had chunk out of them. If you polish too much, you can lose the etchings, but you did fine. Your scales look okay from what I can see. I had Glen Mercurio of GemstarCustoms replace my scales and restore the razor. He buffed away the etchings, but the razor shaves and looks great.

Have you shaved with yours yet?

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I have! I did the HHT and found it popping hairs and in some cases splitting them (iduno if that is good or bad or neutral). So I moved on to the next test and shaved with it.
Wow! Really impressed with the shave! I didn't do my standard prep because I was so eager to try it. It glides kinda slow, and the pivot is a little stiff. But that was something I was starting to enjoy by the second pass. No irritation what so ever, I may touch it up again if it still is slow after a full prep like I am used too. This is going into my rotation for sure!

Thanks everyone for the advice and motivation!

Sincerely,
JackofDiamonds

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JackofDiamonds

I have! I did the HHT and found it popping hairs and in some cases splitting them (iduno if that is good or bad or neutral). So I moved on to the next test and shaved with it.
Wow! Really impressed with the shave! I didn't do my standard prep because I was so eager to try it. It glides kinda slow, and the pivot is a little stiff. But that was something I was starting to enjoy by the second pass. No irritation what so ever, I may touch it up again if it still is slow after a full prep like I am used too. This is going into my rotation for sure!

Thanks everyone for the advice and motivation!

Sincerely,
JackofDiamonds

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It was good to read how well things went. There is something I am not even close to figuring out but the feelings I get after working on a razor and then getting a good shave with it are wonderful. I am glad you had a good one.

--james

I've shaved with straights for only two months and have found these Sheffield wedges to be the only blades to not nick me. A really smooth and safe shave...for me.