Thread: John Barber Restoration...

Here's my latest albatross!

I mean, the razor that I have been taking my sweet ass time restoring. I'm a bit partial to these older razors, so I thought I'd piss off a lot of antique collectors and 'have at it' with my dremel, and hand sanding (I hate hand sanding! It's what took me so long to finish this...about a few months, when I had the time...oh, and there is also the H.Boker I'm finishing up too, that took up some time...That'll be posted another time).

Not too bad I'd say! Kept her pinned the whole time, so it's all original hardware...

What is not seen in the scan is that the horn is sanded/polished to glass/reflecting finish, and the bulls-eye collars were originally just rust with brass pins...those sanded up nice to a bright silver with brass centers.

Can't wait to hone and shave with this puppy!!

C utz

Nice job C. I like the shape of the blade, though it may be a challenge to hone. I love the feeling of cleaning one of these things up and getting ready for prime time again. Don't worry about the collectors, let someone collect it in another hundred years.... 'yes, someone actually used this back in the 21st century'. Again, nice work- J

Great work as always Chris

I agree with yous. Sanding the blade with Dremel and especial from Hand is really boring. But it worth. Don´t think about the collectors, this is a really good work. I woud do that in the same way.
In my opinion the razors primal not made for collections, they are made for using. Nobody want to shave with a rusty blade.

Nice work, but what do you mean you don't like hand sanding ? Heathen!


I asked a bladesmith about how he felt about restoring antique blades for new use, and his answer was 'Another word for something that can't be used is useless'

If I hadn't been outbid on ebay a month or so ago, I would have restored a 2nd century roman razor and put it in my rotation. Probably would have caused the museum director who outbid me a heart attack.
I cannot imagine for a moment that a master smith would want his works to be put in a display case - covered in rust - if someone could restore it and bring it back to life for its original purpose.

I agree!

Why abandon it, and let it rust away!

The best part about this razor is that it took an edge so fast and easy, it was almost as if it wanted to be used!

C utz

Beautiful job! You gave this razor a new life. As for having a little guilty about messing with a "collectible", I used to have similar thoughts....but I've since chucked countless ratty scales so I could put on some custom woods.

-Steve