Thread: 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.

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.

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...

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!




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




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!

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...

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