Thread: Fixing up my only frameback

I've had this frameback for a while now and recently been trying to figure out the maker. Someone on SRP encouraged me to fix it up a bit and get er shaving so that's what I did. The scales were crumbling and very chewed up by bugs, especially on the inside, so I used the old scales as a template for the new. I glued two pieces of horn together with paper between and let dry. Traced the old scales, cut them out, shaped by hand, lots of hand work and got them to match the old. I drilled the holes using a pin vise then I used a utility razor to cut the paper and separate the pieces. Polished by hand using Mother's plastic polish. I reused the old wedge. Also, I made new brass collars following this http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...-vlad-how.html as I have been doing for a few years now. I like to add one extra step at the end, though, and that is use a larger drill bit in a pin vise and dish out the top of the collar so that the pin sets flush with the collar after using the ball peen. I liked the look of the patina and age on the blade because it was fairly uniform all over so I did minimal cleaning and polishing all by hand first with 2000 sandpaper coated in 7 (I think) micron diamond lapping paste, then just the lapping paste on a tiny piece of rag with a Popsicle stick backer. I honed down to good steel, set a nice bevel and onward to shaving. So, after who knows how many years of being out of service this razor is up and running again as I enjoyed my first frameback shave ever today, and a great shave it certainly was!

Nice work. Pretty cool to be able to bring something back to life again and be able to enjoy it.


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Fantastic save! It does feel good to take something that most folks would say "Its shot" and clean up, replace scales and get it shaving again, I guess you would call that Pride. I would even want to take a wild guess as to how many razors have been dumped that still had plenty of life left in them.

Love those framebacks! I have a Wm. Greaves and a Joseph Rodgers & Sons, wouldn't get rid of either one, great shavers.

Nice work, I love the finish on the blade and the collars.

Scales came out very nice. Good job.

Nice work ! You breathed new life into it and kept the character. Kudos

Nice! That's a keeper! I like the extra touch with the collars. And keeping it vintage looking with the patina.
If I had only one frameback I'd want it to be that one.
No idea on the manufacturer, that tail is cool, and the Masonic symbol..

Wow, great job well done. Is this your first time doing this?

Originally Posted by engine46

Wow, great job well done. Is this your first time doing this?

Thanks, Engine! Well, I've been learning about restoring for three years now. I'm still learning something new with each project and that's what's got me hooked I think. I truly appreciate the kind words and compliments here. Thanks, everybody!

Originally Posted by xiaotuzi

Thanks, Engine! Well, I've been learning about restoring for three years now. I'm still learning something new with each project and that's what's got me hooked I think. I truly appreciate the kind words and compliments here. Thanks, everybody!

You're welcome my friend!

I'm just guessing but from what I can see with the type frameback and the monkey tail that may be a very old razor and in my opinion, a treasure to cherish for a lifetime. Maybe someone more knowledgeable about the age of razors will chime in with more info for you..........Enjoy!