These "Sweeney Todd" razors on ebay.

I've been wanting to try out a razor with metal scales, but I don't want to buy a restored vintage or Dovo only to find that I can't get used to the razor's weighting and balance.

What I'm considering doing, is buying one of those cheap razors off ebay, un-pinning the scales, and then re-pinning them to a real blade. The original blade will go in a place it belongs.

I've watched a few youtube videos on them, and needless to say, most people only bought them for decorative purposes, some of them were even holding it by the spine and swinging it open/ shut/ open/ shut. One person claimed to have brought an edge onto it, but he didn't say how long it lasted or if it was shave-ready (HHT, thumbnail etc). One of my favourite comments on these videos was "That is not a straight razor, but a straight razor shaped object."

Would this be viable?

No, just don't do it!

Find something with a nice blade to start with, the blade is the most important part.

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Originally Posted by Lemur

No, just don't do it!

Find something with a nice blade to start with, the blade is the most important part.

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Oh I would remove the blade and throw it in the bin. I just want the scales to see how they feel, but I don't want to spend $100+ on a dovo stainless steel. I have a dovo best quality that I no longer use, so I'll re-scale that.

Ok, but don't put to much money or effort in it.
If you really would like those scales and can shave with the weight of them then you are a special breed.

On Dovos or mostly all others with metal scales they are thin to not make them to heavy for shaving.
Then there's also those all stainless but they are for shaving prior to surgery and then the ability to be sterilized goes before balance.

I wonder what it would take to turn a Sweeney Todd into a functional razor, or if it's even possible... :confused:

Not viable.

I think you're all missing his question: he plans to trash the Sweeney Todd blade, but repin the scales to a REAL blade. That doesn't sound at all difficult to my thinking...

Not all medical razors are poorly balanced. Look at this Butler. Thinner scales saves weight!


Attachment 148080

Some, with thicker scales such as this "PC" are fairly scale-heavy with thicker scales

Attachment 148081


If you are going down the Sweeney road, I saw some on Ebay with aluminum scales. I could recommend to try that. The stainless ones are ridiculously heavy! :p

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Originally Posted by DarthLord

I wonder what it would take to turn a Sweeney Todd into a functional razor, or if it's even possible... :confused:

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I would imagine that the original blade's steel will be of such poor quality that it would be impossible to get a good, lasting edge on it.

^^ Yes, I will pin the scales to a genuine Dovo best quality blade I no longer use.


sharptonn, Thanks for the advice, I'll look for aluminium.

I have had first hand experience with these razors, I prepared the razors to be used as stage props.

The scales are really heavy, I would not use them on/with a real blade.

The scales are cool in their own way and do not cost too much. If you really want to use them go ahead, but the razor will be very scale heavy. If i a remember right the pin size is a little larger than normal also.

Charlie

I reckon the Dovo blade is going to look a little lost (and feel a bit resentful) in those scales. From what I have read the overall length varies from 10.5 to 11.5 inches and a Dovo tortoise I have here is 9.5 inches overall...

Regards,
Neil

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Originally Posted by spazola

I have had first hand experience with these razors, I prepared the razors to be used as stage props.

The scales are really heavy, I would not use them on/with a real blade.

The scales are cool in their own way and do not cost too much. If you really want to use them go ahead, but the razor will be very scale heavy. If i a remember right the pin size is a little larger than normal also.

Charlie

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Why not lap the inner surface of the scales to remove metal (and thus weight), then use a customized wedge and pins for the change in size?

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Originally Posted by Neil Miller

I reckon the Dovo blade is going to look a little lost (and feel a bit resentful) in those scales. From what I have read the overall length varies from 10.5 to 11.5 inches and a Dovo tortoise I have here is 9.5 inches overall...

Regards,
Neil

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Wow; those are huge!

These Sweeney Todd razors must be pretty popular, even Boker has lowered itself to produce them Boker Magnum Fleet Razor | eBay . Anything for a buck I suppose.

Back to the original post. I think like the others that it may not do the balance of the razor any good but it is so cheap to do why not give it a go.

Bob

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Originally Posted by BobH

These Sweeney Todd razors must be pretty popular, even Boker has lowered itself to produce them Boker Magnum Fleet Razor | eBay . Anything for a buck I suppose.

Back to the original post. I think like the others that it may not do the balance of the razor any good but it is so cheap to do why not give it a go.

Bob

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"Magnum" is the branch of Boker that makes knives, not razors. In the item description, they call it a knife in the shape of a razor. Took me a while to recognise that too.

Darthlord, I think I will lap it a bit, just to make them a bit lighter, although I think the scales will still be too long to look aesthetic. My dovo, in it's current state, is 10" fully opened.

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Originally Posted by Amenrab

"Magnum" is the branch of Boker that makes knives, not razors. In the item description, they call it a knife in the shape of a razor. Took me a while to recognise that too.

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Yea, Boker makes that "fine" distinction on their actual site but the bay seller does not. Whatever Boker says on their site it is amazing that it has more than a passing resemblance to other generic Sweeney Todd razors for sale on the Bay.

Bob

Ok, after a lot of searching, these sweeney todd razors look far too long and heavy for me to even consider using.

I'm bidding on a medical razor instead.

Go for one which has very thin scales, preferably a hollow-grind in a good brand, like that Butler I pictured above. Lots of them are, well, somewhat crude, IMO.

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

Go for one which has very thin scales, preferably a hollow-grind in a good brand, like that Butler I pictured above. Lots of them are, well, somewhat crude, IMO.

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Are B. M. Chiron/ Aesculap reputable brands?

My initial reaction is to say DON'T DO IT! but that's probably because I've been resisting the urge for the last 5 years to try the exact same thing! I guess if you do it, it'll save me a few bucks and we can all learn from your experiment. So, if the desire is there, go for it - and let us know how it turns out. ...but you'll still get made fun of just a little.... :popcorn:

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Originally Posted by AirColorado

My initial reaction is to say DON'T DO IT! but that's probably because I've been resisting the urge for the last 5 years to try the exact same thing! I guess if you do it, it'll save me a few bucks and we can all learn from your experiment. So, if the desire is there, go for it - and let us know how it turns out. ...but you'll still get made fun of just a little.... :popcorn:

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Nah, those scales are over 6" long. I intend to get a nice display case soon, to try and limit the number of straights I get, and that's too big to fit in any standard case. And I've never seen a blade that'd be long enough to fit those scales, without looking stupid.

Maybe you should try it. Here's a link - 10 5" Sweeney Todd Straight Razor Stainless Steel Tactical Folding Pocket Knife | eBay

Go on, buy yourself a "STAINLESS STEEL TACTICAL FOLDING POCKET KNIFE" (Whatever that means).


:popcorn:

Nah, I'm happy being in the audience on this experiment. :popcorn: Thanks anyway.

I did it once, with an 8/8 Friodur :D

I have a Joseph Rodgers and Sons razor with quite thin metal scales and they're definitely pretty heavy. The blade is rather thick itself, so it balances out okay, but I think it would feel pretty out of balance with a smaller razor.

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

I did it once, with an 8/8 Friodur :D

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Wow, very impressive. But I'm already bidding on two medical razors, and if I lose out on them, someone's offered me a Wapi.

Sharptonn did you have to reduce the scales at all? I have that blade you used and it's just sitting in my queue awaiting attention on some new scales...

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Originally Posted by AirColorado

Sharptonn did you have to reduce the scales at all? I have that blade you used and it's just sitting in my queue awaiting attention on some new scales...

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No. In fact, the Sweeny razor came with a wierd circular spacer at the end. In making the red, solid one, I had to get it really close to the pin. I unpinned the blade and sent it to a very good and talented member in Scottsdale, Arizona for some carbon fiber scales. He decided to quit and abscond with mine and several other's blades which had been entrusted to him. I still have the scales and the red Corian wedge I had on the blade. If you would like, PM me and I shall send them to you. Bad memories for me, but perhaps something you would like?

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Originally Posted by ne0nblakk

I have a Joseph Rodgers and Sons razor with quite thin metal scales and they're definitely pretty heavy. The blade is rather thick itself, so it balances out okay, but I think it would feel pretty out of balance with a smaller razor.

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This is key. The heavier blades are complemented by heavier scales, somewhat.
In looking at razors made back when it actually mattered, the scales were of natural materials, very light. The difference which created balance was the scale length and lead wedges to put the weight out on the end, where it belongs! Don't get me wrong! I have a number of razors with overall heavy scales, even though they balance at the tang. They shave great, but the angle of the scales to the blade must be adjusted, esp for WTG! It has not been an issue, really. In fact, sometimes, an advantage! :)