Good for restoration?

I'm brand new to the site and have never owned a straight razor before. My grandfather just gave me his grandfather's (my great-great grandfather) straight razor. Overall, it seems to be in great shape for it's age. The steal has little rust and very few small nicks in the blade. One of the scales is completely broken through and the other was engraved by my great great grandfather with his initials and the year 1886. It seems to me that this razor is suitable for restoration but I wanted to ask for input before I start anything.

Is this razor suitable for restoration to shave with?
Does restoring it damage it's value as an antique?

If I should restore it:

I assume WD40 wet hand sanding with a series of fine to ultra fine sand papers would be the best to polish the steal without losing the etchings. Is that correct?
I plan to keep the engraved scale on the razor (it seems to be straight). Does anyone know where I could get and old scale to replace the broken one? Is this a bad plan?

Thanks for any input.

There are lots of folks on this site who can advise you, I'm not one of them. That razor is special, go slow.

maybe send it to someone , as an heirloom its worth it to keep it safe instead of hurting it with inexperience , I would definitely want it restored right,, as to sanding you will lose the etching good luck tc

I have contacted a couple of the members of this site for professional restoration and am waiting for reply. I would gladly send it to someone with the proper skill but was also a bit concerned about something going wrong in other hands. Thanks for the input!

I think you are on the right track. It is great that the broken scale is the one without his mark on it. There are a few here that will be able to make it a bit more of a looker than it currently is. If I were to make the call on how much work to put into the restoration it would be not a lot. Knock back the active rust and fix or replace the broken scale and call it good. It is probably best looking like an older razor, it looks like it has had a long service already.

I'd send it to one of the Pros on this site & have it restored. It's a "Pipe" razor, nice old razor & considering it's an heirloom, I'd run the risk.

None of the guys here that restore razors, would give anything less than their best to restore it, but accidents can happen even in the most skilled hands. This is the risk you take.

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Originally Posted by Hirlau

I'd send it to one of the Pros on this site & have it restored. It's a "Pipe" razor, nice old razor & considering it's an heirloom, I'd run the risk.

None of the guys here that restore razors, would give anything less than their best to restore it, but accidents can happen even in the most skilled hands. This is the risk you take.

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I agree with my friend, send it to a Pro to bring it back to life. It is amazing what they can do! Yes there are always Risks when working with Vintage Razors! While I can clean up a razor and scales THEY can either repair the scale and bring the blade back to where it once was or replicate a scale that would look period correct and or both.

I have my favorite restorer if you want a reference, send me a PM.

Great to have an Heirloom isn't it?:y :y :y :y

the scales might be a good candidate for hornoxy (epoxy mixed with ground bull horn) take the scale off glue it and fill the gaps with the hornoxy, sand back the excess, redrill the pin hole and your done got the idea from this video Wade & Butcher Straight Razor Restoration - YouTube

As the previous members have said, send it out to a pro. Let the broken scale getting fixed (so keep them original) and keep the patina on the blade. It's an old blade with a lot of history to it, so keep it that way. Once you remove that history with polishing it, it's gone forever. Get it honed by a pro and keep it with you forever.

JMO.Have the blade pro honed only (if it can be done with that cracked scale),shave with it one time, than oil it and say thx to your GGGf.
Than store it away.