Thread: Wade and Butcher - ouch - crack in blade

This one hurts the pride a bit. I had finished cleaning up a nice looking Wade & Butcher 6/8" blade and put it in some nice Maple wood scales.
Somehow I had missed seeing a crack in the blade, which may have happened when I accidentally dropped it while pinning it together. I am hoping it may be salvageable with some serious reshaping, but the crack seems to go about 1/3 of the way up from the edge about 1/2" from the shoulder - so maybe not

As they say pics tell the story so have included some here to show the damage. If it's not salvageable perhaps a collector will be interested in getting hold of it as it looks to be in good overall condition. All suggestions and comments welcome. Thanks in advance gents

Ouch Hope you can make a thumb notch or something....

You probably could salvage it (only way to know is to try), but, personally, I'd just put it aside and move onto another razor. So many out there, so little time.

MattCB and Holli4pirating - Thanks for your input on this.
Decided to put this one aside to work out the problem some other day. Going to do some more reading up on these things and ask some of our restorers about the best way to proceed with this job. Whatever happens it will be a really unusual, and maybe even an ugly razor. Best case I could have a full length razor with a shorter blade. The fact the blade is 6/8"wide could make it look a bit weird. Worst case I will have a razor shaped parcel/box/letter opener.

Oh sh*%, I feel for you Rick, I had the same thing happen a couple of weeks ago when I bought a Kropp 6/8 at the Caloundra antiques fair. It was a bit crusty with dirt and rust and when I got it home.... At least I didn't get to the polishing stage so there wasn't much wasted labour.

My sympathies

Mike

BTW I doubt that crack was down to you dropping it; I think it was just there all along waiting to be uncovered by polishing

Rick , you may be able to do something like I had to on this Wosty.
It had lost a chunk out of the heel on the grinder. Brittle steel & wrong angle & snappo.

Mind you on 2nd look that crack seems to go up along way which is a worry.

@Oz

I had a really close look with my USB scope and it seems the crack goes about half way up the blade.
Tried get a clear pic to show it but just couldn't get it right. With this in mind would the blade be salvageable at all?
I only spent about an hour cleaning up the razor as it was in reasonably good condition, so time wise not a lot has been lost.
Thanks for your input and guidance.

Got a photo to show the crack better - not really clear but shows the problem.

Basically if you can't grind the crack away you won't have success. Use a texta to mark a new profile & see if it's possible.
Ideally the crack should not extend past the tang but if its half way up the blade I'd say you're in trouble.

I'd say that blade was just waiting to snap off. Set it aside and use it for a pattern.