Joseph Rodgers Sons Cutler Their Majesties Celluloid Tang Straight Razor 6/8+

I've always wanted one of these. I found his beautiful razor sitting on Ebay. Literally just sitting there! For the Buy Now price of 10 cups of Venti Starbuck coffee I had to have it. With my untrained eye, the blade seems to be in good/great condition. Very little staining, rust or pitting.

Now the easy part is over. The blade is purchased and it's on it's way to Cheetahville.

So here's the hard part. I think the razor is covered in Ivory so what's the best way to get scales for it? The 2 ways that I can come up with are:

1: Scour Ebay for a set of scales that I think will match. I've seen some blades that I wouldn't mind sacrificing for a set of "bone"scales for this beautiful razor. I think this razor is covered in ivory but really have no way of telling. If so I would want a pair of Ivory scales or to protect it. Would there be a problem with the colors of bone matching during the restore? I would like a uniform look.

2: sending it out for restore and relying on the expertise of the person doing the restore to find the best material for the job...which I figure will be super expensive.

Totally not opposed to the expensive route but if I can at least supply the scales I feel like I will have contributed in some way and helped to keep the cost down by doing some leg work myself. If this razor should be totally left to the pros then let me know.

Either way this one is going to get done...lol

Thanks

Cheetah

So here is what I would like it to look like

Original Restores Gallery | Maggard Razors - Straight Razor Restoration, Custom Scales and Wet Shaving Products

If the tang is ivory I think the hardest part would be trying to match the color if you went with ivory scales. Might be able to find a set that is aged and close to the same color. I'm sure there are ways to age ivory to match the color. Could always go with something like ebony or black synthetic material to give contrast to the tang. Either way I think it will look great done and Rogers razors take a fantastic edge.

Those scales look like they came off of an MK. I have a couple of mk32's I could measure for you.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JSmith1983

If the tang is ivory I think the hardest part would be trying to match the color if you went with ivory scales. Might be able to find a set that is aged and close to the same color. I'm sure there are ways to age ivory to match the color. Could always go with something like ebony or black synthetic material to give contrast to the tang. Either way I think it will look great done and Rogers razors take a fantastic edge.

---

Black scales would be the easy way out IMO and I'm sure people would question why go through the trouble of getting a covered tang to not have the scales match. There's probably a reason why it didn't come the factory with contrasting scales and I want Joseph Rodgers himself to be proud of the work, not angry with my short comings.

Thanks for the imput. I hope that you are right with the ivory color matching part.

Cheetah

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jfk742

Those scales look like they came off of an MK. I have a couple of mk32's I could measure for you.

---

Any imput that will help move this project forward would be awesome and helpful.

Thanks

Cheetah

I am not sure about your need for a perfect match on the ivory color. I have some razors that haven't got a perfect match in color from side to side, and I doubt my scales have seen any work. They don't always get the same exposure to air and other things so there is often a small difference. Just give it a light clean and try your best to match it up. I have acquired quite a few razors while trying to find two sets of scales that match my seven day set. Some have been picked up for very little. A funny side story, I was in an antiques mall and saw a razors with bone scales that said Ivory scales on a razor $125, I turned up my nose and ket looking, and found a razor with a very nice set of ivory scales that were advertised as plastic, $10. So look for sure.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RezDog

I am not sure about your need for a perfect match on the ivory color. I have some razors that haven't got a perfect match in color from side to side, and I doubt my scales have seen any work. They don't always get the same exposure to air and other things so there is often a small difference. Just give it a light clean and try your best to match it up. I have acquired quite a few razors while trying to find two sets of scales that match my seven day set. Some have been picked up for very little. A funny side story, I was in an antiques mall and saw a razors with bone scales that said Ivory scales on a razor $125, I turned up my nose and ket looking, and found a razor with a very nice set of ivory scales that were advertised as plastic, $10. So look for sure.

---

You are correct about the perfect match but if you look at Maggard's sample, there is something so "buttoned up" about the look. Trust me, I know it's the graphic/ fashion designer in me....LOL I just want this thing to be perfect like a 3 piece powder blue suit from the 70's. There aren't many/ any antique shops that I've seen near me with straight razors so I'll prob have to get them from ebay.

I've got nothing but time so I will keep looking

Thanks Rez

Eureka!
Just do all of the "bone" pieces at the same time so that it all matches

Done...drops mic

CMP

cheetah
It looks like aged Ivory to me if my eye sees it correctly! It would be very nice to find a straight with aged Ivory scales to rob from & use on that blade! That is what I would do. I would set it aside & I do have a few straights that have Ivory scales on 'em & if I had that blade, I would have to take from one & give to the other. I would have no other choice but to do that! That my friend is what I would do!:bow

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by engine46

cheetah
It looks like aged Ivory to me if my eye sees it correctly! It would be very nice to find a straight with aged Ivory scales to rob from & use on that blade! That is what I would do. I would set it aside & I do have a few straights that have Ivory scales on 'em & if I had that blade, I would have to take from one & give to the other. I would have no other choice but to do that! That my friend is what I would do!:bow

---

Cool. Thanks man
Sounds about right to me.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cheetahmeatpheonix

Eureka!
Just do all of the "bone" pieces at the same time so that it all matches

Done...drops mic

CMP

---

You make it all sound so easy :)

If you could find the right color, you could use ivory micarta for a temporary fix at least. Some of the examples in the link are very close to the right shade.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hart

You make it all sound so easy :)

If you could find the right color, you could use ivory micarta for a temporary fix at least. Some of the examples in the link are very close to the right shade.

---

Hart, That is the only other alternative & good idea. Aside from that, it would take some well aged Ivory scales & it would be such a beauty!!!!!!!!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by engine46

Hart, That is the only other alternative & good idea. Aside from that, it would take some well aged Ivory scales & it would be such a beauty!!!!!!!!!

---

I have to say that when I was in school, one of my design teachers told me that my god given talent is to come up with ideas. So nowI get paid to come up with ideas. I can't make anything but I can help spark the process....lol I do understand that making scales and tangs isn't an easy process. I wish I could do it myself.

Cheers

Cheetah Einstein

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cheetahmeatpheonix

I have to say that when I was in school, one of my design teachers told me that my god given talent is to come up with ideas. So nowI get paid to come up with ideas. I can't make anything but I can help spark the process....lol I do understand that making scales and tangs isn't an easy process. I wish I could do it myself.

Cheers

Cheetah Einstein

---

It isn't that hard to make scales if you have a belt sander & a way to cut them, like I use one piece to make 1 set. Unfortunately, one of the scales I just made for my Jonathan Crookes FBU got some cracks under the surface & I need to either make a complete set or duplicate the one that went bad. I was making a brass wedge for it & I don't know how but when I looked at them the next day, one of them had the cracks in it! What can I say except......that's life! The other one still looks perfect. Maybe there was a reason for it happening. Maybe the duplicate one I make will turn out better. You can see the cracks at the top.

Crack or no crack.... Still great craftsmanship!

Can't wait until I get to making me some scales for myself.....lol

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Willisf

Crack or no crack.... Still great craftsmanship!

Can't wait until I get to making me some scales for myself.....lol

---

Thanks Willis! You're a great asset to the community! I'll make a duplicate scale. It'll work out. It may have been a bad cut by the seller & appeared after I finished it.

Just realized I wrote 32, I meant 31. The mk31 is a 5/8 blade 32 is 6/8. My apology for the brain fart but here's the measurements for one of my mk31.

Overall: 5.43"
Pin to pin: 4.6"
Width of scales at wedge pin: .625"
Width at pivot: .42"

I bet a set of mk32 scales would be the ticket. As far as the tang and scales being matchy matchy..... Good luck

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jfk742

Just realized I wrote 32, I meant 31. The mk31 is a 5/8 blade 32 is 6/8. My apology for the brain fart but here's the measurements for one of my mk31.

Overall: 5.43"
Pin to pin: 4.6"
Width of scales at wedge pin: .625"
Width at pivot: .42"

I bet a set of mk32 scales would be the ticket. As far as the tang and scales being matchy matchy..... Good luck

---

Since you brought up an MK 31, Here's mine:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/show-...ml#post1430090

That's all, back to this nice Joseph Rodgers I love so much. I can't wait to see it completed! I will have my eyes open for a set of scales for it!!!!

A 6/8??? Are you okay cheetah? Got a fever? :rofl2:
Black horn would look ok I guess, failing that pixelfixed might be worth asking, he seems to do quite a bit of work in ivory. You wanna get one of those old paint stirrers up and running, you missing out on the best bit.......shaving with them.

cheetah
Here's a beautiful straight that I would hate to take the scales off of because it is a Mappin & Webb but It looks like the scales are Ivory!

Old Antique Vintage Mappin Webb Straight Razor 3 4" | eBay

Think I'll keep searching but those would be great candidates bit like I said, I'd hate to take the scales off of a prime razor like that!!!!!

Attachment 203445Attachment 203446Attachment 203447
Looks similar to this razor, which is definitely not ivory. You can check to see if its bone using a jeweler's loupe. If its bone it will have what looks like pores and lines on the surface. If not, then its either ivory or plastic. One way to check for sure if its ivory is to get a needle, heat it up until its red hot and push it onto the scale material in an inconspicuous place, inside the hinge hole would be good. If its ivory it won't burn, if its bone or plastic it will. Good luck

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jfk742

Just realized I wrote 32, I meant 31. The mk31 is a 5/8 blade 32 is 6/8. My apology for the brain fart but here's the measurements for one of my mk31.

Overall: 5.43"
Pin to pin: 4.6"
Width of scales at wedge pin: .625"
Width at pivot: .42"

I bet a set of mk32 scales would be the ticket. As far as the tang and scales being matchy matchy..... Good luck

---

If I had set of real Heji Ivory Scales,I would be looking for the proper Helji blade,Finest Ivory ever cut.

Just found this post researching possible solutions for this razor.

gssixgun did a full tang and scale restore on one of these

http://straightrazorpalace.com/custo...gers-sons.html

It looks amazing

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by engine46

cheetah
Here's a beautiful straight that I would hate to take the scales off of because it is a Mappin & Webb but It looks like the scales are Ivory!

Old Antique Vintage Mappin Webb Straight Razor 3 4" | eBay

Think I'll keep searching but those would be great candidates bit like I said, I'd hate to take the scales off of a prime razor like that!!!!!

---

Yup I saw that earlier today. This project has totally consumed me. I've literally been in front of this computer for hours searching

Thanks!

I vote for Black horn as well.

You don’t need a belt sander or fancy saw. A hand held coping saw and some sand paper are all you need. A homemade birds mouth from a piece of plywood would make it a bit easier, it’s not complicated.

Here is a great video of Charlie Lewis making a set of scales with a minimum of tools.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cheetahmeatpheonix

Just found this post researching possible solutions for this razor.

gssixgun did a full tang and scale restore on one of these

http://straightrazorpalace.com/custo...gers-sons.html

It looks amazing

---

Yes, that is one beautiful piece!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Euclid440

I vote for Black horn as well.

You don’t need a belt sander or fancy saw. A hand held coping saw and some sand paper are all you need. A homemade birds mouth from a piece of plywood would make it a bit easier, it’s not complicated.

Here is a great video of Charlie Lewis making a set of scales with a minimum of tools.

---

I have seen this video as well & I do have some 1/8" cocobolo slabs that each piece will make 1 full set of scales by cutting them in half. I have 4 pieces, each about 2 1/4" X 6". This video was why I bought the cocobolo. I usually work with horn or bone but some of this would be nice as well.
Charlie Lewis is a great guy & has some nice razor video's. He has made some very nice razor's too.
I still think that some aged Ivory would be good for the blade or some faux Ivory in Micarta would do the job so all due respect Euclid, I do understand your ideas & thoughts, I am in no way going against your opinion. It may look good with black scales so I hope you don't take my thoughts the wrong way, no offense intended. The black scales might offset the white tang & even it out, who knows?

I have heard of ivory piano keys being bleached with hydrogen peroxide and uv light. You could try that. Definetly do a sample piece first.

Well thank god this isn't a democracy.....lol This blade isn't going to get black scales, brown scales, red scales, blue scales. This thing is going to be built like a '65 Mustang Fastback 2+2 with a 289 small block V8 with 351 Cleveland heads, relocated battery in the trunk, full rollcage, 5 point harnesses, Recaro Racing bucket seats, front racing apron, 9 inch Lincoln rear with disc brakes all around and blue Shelby Racing Stripes. Meaning this is going to be a classic build. Either Ivory scales or full matching synthetic whatachamalalit mictarta scales and redone tang. Absolutely no 2 tone. Every one that I have seen on the net with that mismatch thing looks horrible to me.

It originally matched up out of the child labor factory and I want to keep it that way. This project doesn't have to be done today. So if it needs time to be done correctly then it'l just take abit longer (I'm going to look intot hose Mappin scales though...lol). I'm leaning towards the whole redo with the synthetic scales like gssixgun did so that i don't have to worry about the natural material cracking or splitting. Plus it just looks so freakin clean. I still need to track down some restoration estimates.

But we'll see. i have 30 other 8/8's that need restoration as well....lol

Thanks

Cheetah