Roll the eBay dice: get an 1820's Stenton Masonic razor.

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10-31-2012, 02:35 AM
Voidmonster

Roll the eBay dice: get an 1820's Stenton Masonic razor.

I noticed the etch on this but couldn't make out what it was from the eBay pictures. I got it real cheap on the off chance it was interesting.

It's interesting.

http://theshiveringbeggar.com/wp-con...0/IMG_7855.jpg

I also used this as an excuse to screw around with a new light box I got. The lighting can use a lot of tweaking still, but it's a passable result.

The blade is badly rusted. I used a little bit of Wullie's graphite trick and it works awful sweet, but the corrosion on this poor oldie is more than a match for it. You can see the difference in the rusted spots on the left side and the right.

http://theshiveringbeggar.com/wp-con...0/IMG_7859.jpg

I'm pondering whether I want to use this as an excuse to attempt a total factory-quality refurbish which would mean sanding down to clean metal, polishing up to a crocus shine and then re-etching the Masonic design. On the one hand, it would be fun to have an 1820's (see the GR stamp next to 'Stenton' on the tang) blade that looks pristine, but on the other hand it would by necessity be a recreation that destroys part of the original work.

Anybody have any thoughts on that? I'm certainly not averse to just killing the active rust (with an industrial-size can of Rust-formulation RAID) and using it as is. Almost as is, the pile-side pivot is cracked and missing its washer, but that's no impediment to fixing the scales.

http://theshiveringbeggar.com/wp-con...0/IMG_7863.jpg
10-31-2012, 02:52 AM
Martin103

To me i would remove the active rust clean up and use as is, no need for a shiny full restore that like turning a model t into a ferrari just doesnt work.
10-31-2012, 03:08 AM
MattW

Roll the eBay dice: get an 1820's Stenton Masonic razor.

This could be a good candidate to try removing the rust with a dunk in citric acid which would not damage the etch like abrasives would. I'd hate to see this one lose the etch in the name of a shiny restore.
10-31-2012, 03:17 AM
Voidmonster

Roll the eBay dice: get an 1820's Stenton Masonic razor.

If I do a shiny restore, I will re-etch the blade with the exact same image.
10-31-2012, 04:24 AM
Wullie

I hope you can get a better image of the etch.

OLD Masonic imagery is fascinating to me.

WAY cool old razor!!
10-31-2012, 04:33 AM
Voidmonster

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wullie

I hope you can get a better image of the etch.

OLD Masonic imagery is fascinating to me.

WAY cool old razor!!

I can surely get a better image of the etching!

In the interim, here's the eBay image I was going by when I bought it:

http://theshiveringbeggar.com/wp-con...-eBayImage.jpg

The compass isn't visible at all, but I guessed by the daggers that it was probably a Masonic razor.

What I'm curious about is whether these sort of things were etched by the manufacturer or if they were done by the reseller. I can see good arguments for either and both.
10-31-2012, 05:05 AM
Voidmonster

Here's a much better photo of what remains of the etching.

http://theshiveringbeggar.com/wp-con...0/IMG_7878.jpg
10-31-2012, 05:26 AM
Johnus

Roll the eBay dice: get an 1820's Stenton Masonic razor.

From this last photo; I'm not sure it's Masonic ? Man in the Moon? Not sure...
10-31-2012, 05:28 AM
Johnus

Roll the eBay dice: get an 1820's Stenton Masonic razor.

It may be nautical theme?
W. STENTON & SON
New York City
ca. 1846 - 1860

R S STENTON
New York City
ca. 1846 - 1860
10-31-2012, 05:44 AM
Voidmonster

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnus

From this last photo; I'm not sure it's Masonic ? Man in the Moon? Not sure...

A lot of the same imagery is on Wullie's big Greaves Masonic blade.
10-31-2012, 05:53 AM
Johnus

Roll the eBay dice: get an 1820's Stenton Masonic razor.

Well ?? Looks like we need a Mason to set us straight! You could be right.
10-31-2012, 12:01 PM
Wintchase

I think that may be a Templar? Which is Part of the Mason lore.. Or perhaps Scottish Rite which is the 32 degree of Masonic levels. That looks like an Angle symbol above his head?
10-31-2012, 12:20 PM
nun2sharp

All of that deep pitting will not allow for a full restore. How will you duplicate the etch, it seems to me the bulk of it is gone?
10-31-2012, 04:30 PM
mattluthier

I would be in favor of leaving the razor as is with just the surface rust carefully cleaned off. Hone it and enjoy it. My opinion with shining it up and re-etching is that it removes the history and character of the razor which can never be undone. Less is more in situations like this....
10-31-2012, 04:55 PM
Voidmonster

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wintchase

I think that may be a Templar? Which is Part of the Mason lore.. Or perhaps Scottish Rite which is the 32 degree of Masonic levels. That looks like an Angle symbol above his head?

Yes, it's definitely the same compass & angle as the one on Wullie's Greaves. I did a little bit of digging around last night, but Masonic lore is a wide ocean to dip into without knowing where to start.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

All of that deep pitting will not allow for a full restore. How will you duplicate the etch, it seems to me the bulk of it is gone?

If I were to go that route, I'd regrind the blade. Since the etch is from standard (somewhere, somewhen!) Masonic imagery, I would carefully track down all the elements and put them back on as they were. There's more of the etch remaining than it might at first seem.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattluthier

I would be in favor of leaving the razor as is with just the surface rust carefully cleaned off. Hone it and enjoy it. My opinion with shining it up and re-etching is that it removes the history and character of the razor which can never be undone. Less is more in situations like this....

The side I'm coming down on, the more I think about it, is minimalist. If I knew a Mason that the etches were meaningful for, and knew what they meant, and I wanted to give this as a gift, I'd fully document the cleanup and re-etch. But if it's just a razor for my collection, I think it's probably better as-is.
10-31-2012, 11:51 PM
Martin103

You mention for your "collection", is this razor going to be used or just collect dust?
11-01-2012, 12:20 AM
Voidmonster

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin103

You mention for your "collection", is this razor going to be used or just collect dust?

Very definitely shaved with.
11-01-2012, 03:40 AM
Wullie

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnus

From this last photo; I'm not sure it's Masonic ? Man in the Moon? Not sure...

It is indeed Masonic.
http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/u...Masonic006.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/u...Masonic007.jpg

Your friendly Mason. ;)
11-04-2012, 05:09 AM
cheetahmeatpheonix

I'm going on F bay right now and I'm going to find me another Masonic Blade that someone can affix to various posts at will. Let me cash in my retirement fund first. Be right back.
11-07-2012, 01:19 AM
Wullie

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheetahmeatpheonix

I'm going on F bay right now and I'm going to find me another Masonic Blade that someone can affix to various posts at will. Let me cash in my retirement fund first. Be right back.

Young grass hoppah, a blade does not a Mason make. :p

Yours Truly,
Hiram A.
11-07-2012, 01:37 AM
nipper

Mr. Abiff I concur.
11-08-2012, 01:37 AM
cheetahmeatpheonix

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wullie

Young grass hoppah, a blade does not a Mason make. :p

Yours Truly,
Hiram A.

Yeah but if I pay enough I will be a honorary-member-of-the-day.
C'mon I know you'll put in a good word for me.

Cheetah Meat
Pres. Of the Cheetah Elks Lodge