A gift worth mentioning, and saving.

[MikeB52]

I received the below from a member on here and had to share. I'm appreciative on a couple of levels actually. Firstly, look at it! Its an early 1800s Greaves for goodness sake. Secondly, it was unexpected, unsolicited kindness/thoughtfulness on a level that I personally didn't expect to experience any more as my circle of friends draws predictably smaller with age.
Renews once sense of altruism and community for sure, as I really am indebted with gratitude. inspired to restore it without f--king it up too! But that goes without saying.


So now its time to decide the best course of action. Scale was removed intact and does not seem damaged or cracked, and looks appropriate to the period. If not original, pretty good fit. Lots of deep rust at the pin, and pits on her sides but she's a thick, true wedge razor.
I can't wait to see what she looks like cleaned up..
and I can't say this enough...
Thanks Phrank! I will try to do it proud.
Cheers.

[Phrank]

Glad you like it Mike...figured a fellow Canuck would know what to do with an old Greaves like that...going to be interesting to watch the restore. Just be careful you don't polish it up to shiny, you don't want to upset the old folks around here....

[guitstik]

Phrank, who knew? Your like the grinch after he figured out what Christmas was really about. Nice razor, treasure it and use it in good health.

[MikeB52]

How shiny to make it??? That is the question..
As I've started buffing already there is certainly deep stuff at the pivot.
And expectedly some pretty deep spots on the blade faces as well. battle scars!
So,, I will apply some gentle pressure and see how she looks. I'm ok with some age spots on older blades. But I do like to get them as polished as possible too. A 200 year tune up, as it were..
Cheers.

[Dzanda]

Well done, Phrank!! Bravo!

I must be one of the "old folks" that Phrank mentioned, MikeB52; those "battle scars" are what I call "character"! So I favor a gentle touch. But whatever you decide, enjoy!

[sharptonn]

Hell yeah! Light buffing, some dremel wire brush around the tang first. Those scales are of wood? Someone did a fine job!
Oil 'em up after light fine steel wool. Pin it back up, hone it with a layer or 2 of tape and GO. Sweet!
Good go, Phrank! Enjoy, Mike!

[edhewitt]

Phrank is a very generous fellow, i have a nice razor from him too. Good onya phrank.

[AndrewJM]

Where's my freebie Phrank? I hear you have a huge GB anchor lying around gathering dust

Jokes aside, I'd like to acknowledge Phranks kindness, generosity & selflessness. Apart from the gift to MikeB52, I also saw on an older post that he has been very generous to Ed and perhaps others, and has been very kind to me also. Phrank and I seem to have a somewhat similar taste in razors, and chat from time to time via PM. Phrank is always kind enough to advise me of new razors he notices on eBay, even though I assume he intends to bid on some himself.

I think that people like Phrank (and many other kind members like him) are the reason that so many people keep returning to SRP and feel welcomed, plus get so much enjoyment and satisfaction from this hobby, whether it be shaving, restoring, collecting or even building straights.

Thumbs up Phrank

[Phrank]

Where's my freebie Phrank? I hear you have a huge GB anchor lying around gathering dust

Jokes aside, I'd like to acknowledge Phranks kindness, generosity & selflessness. Apart from the gift to MikeB52, I also saw on an older post that he has been very generous to Ed and perhaps others, and has been very kind to me also. Phrank and I seem to have a somewhat similar taste in razors, and chat from time to time via PM. Phrank is always kind enough to advise me of new razors he notices on eBay, even though I assume he intends to bid on some himself.

I think that people like Phrank (and many other kind members like him) are the reason that so many people keep returning to SRP and feel welcomed, plus get so much enjoyment and satisfaction from this hobby, whether it be shaving, restoring, collecting or even building straights.

Thumbs up Phrank

Thanks for the kind words Andrew...try to live my life by the Golden Rule and it seems that the majority of the members here do as well, aside from the fact we all get bitchy now and then.

And I agree, the members of SRP have been an incredible community here....it's a wonderful hobby and art, but it makes it so much more fun, as with many things, when you can share it with friends.

[MikeB52]

And for your viewing pleasure I humbly offer my completed restore of my gifted Greaves:

I ended up leaving some scars, and I'm ok with them as the blade feel is very smooth now.
As well as the actual gift of the Greaves from Phrank(Andrew), I also want to thank Sharptonn(Tom) for sending me the domed washers and inner support pins that allowed me to save the original scale. And imo, they look perfectly suited for this blade.
Will be attempting to hone her up tonight and take her for a test shave.
Cheers gents.