Restoring a PUMA

[Kaifa]

Hi,
I just bought this PUMA on Ebay but it has some problems:

- The blade has been honed in the part near the tang, maybe to eliminate some serious chip or nick (see pic 1) and now the edge is not linear.

- The scales, that I like very much, are PUMA but not for this blade, because the razor can't close completely and the bade stops near the scales because they're smaller (pics 2-3).

Do someone know how to restore it? Is it better to change the scales or to cut the point of the razor to reduce the lenght and make it finally close completely? As you can see in pic the contact point is leaving some marks on the rounded point, maybe it will damage with continuous opening/closing.

Second, is it better to use as it is (seems very sharp and nearly passed the HHT) or to hone it until the edge become parallel to the spine?

Waiting your suggestion (ad maybe an expert who would do it for me, for a reasonable price).

All the best

[izlat]

You do not NEED an edge parallel to spine for a good shave. Smile can be great too. What's not good - a frown. You would need to fix this, and all of the honemeisters can do this easily.

I probably wouldn't change scales...

Cheers
Ivo

[C utz]

You can hone out the heel (the heel is not used as much though, if ever for some), and as for the scales... you can replace them with another set of Puma scales, or you can file down the plastic end spacer so the blade fits between the scales. Measure from pivote pin to the tip of the rounded blade, and see if it will touch the spacer pin (measure from the spacer pin to the pivote pin). If it will clear, you can take a jig or hacksaw blade and carefully file down that end spacer from between the scales (go slow so that you do not touch the scales, but only file the spacer down).

If you are not good at honing you could get someone that is to fix that heel....

Good luck and keep us posted!

C utz