Thread: Condition of a Razor blade.

I'm sure information is scattered all around the forums on this topic..... But I and I know other's have questions about a blade's condition at times. Seems like there are a million and 1 things that can happen to a blade.... (Rust, pitting, warped, cell rot....etc) Maybe we can put a little bit of guide showing "what is what". People who are new to straight razors most likely have no idea what is ok to happen to a blade and what is a terrible or something to avoid. Am I making any sense?

I hope this is in the correct section on the forums, if not I'm sure someone will move it. (IF by chance there is a topic already on this subject..... kindly delete this posting.....lol)


Place a pic up that you have questions about or place a pic up and maybe tell some information about what the blade's condition is.

Ok...... What is going on with this blade? Water spots? Oxidation? Major problems down the road?

Originally Posted by Willisf

Ok...... What is going on with this blade? Water spots? Oxidation? Major problems down the road?

Holy buhjeezus! That blade looks galvanized!

Measles or chicken pox?

Dodgy Damascus
Looks like water spots from being put in boiling water or a CLR or similar corrosive rust remover

Looks like some sort of rust remover reaction. What does sanding or polishing do?

If it was done on purpose, this is genius.
If it was not done on purpose, this is bad.

Odd, the condition goes up the tang to a fixed line just before the pivot then turns to regular rust. Seems to support the idea it was dipped in something.

Bob

That looks like my first straight razor when it got a water spot and I decided to "fix it" by dipping it in lemon juice, then brasso, and various assorted chemicals. I still remember, what started off as a blade with a few water spots, looked like that blade after the lemon juice, then just turned black after my "fixing it" for an hour...

Agree with Bob, perfect line at the tang, was probably dipped and soaked in something imo...

Some sort of etchant was used on the blade, probably dipped into a solution and allowed to sit awhile. The evidence is the line at the tang where normal rust appears around the pivot.

The regularity of the pattern could be from the etchant as it eats into the easily digested iron oxides (rust) and formed a bubble pattern on the surface. If it was manipulated, then the pattern was applied with something to resist the etchant and explains the light versus dark areas better.

The blade does not appear to have been honed afterward but only one picture does not tell the whole story.