Thread: Wade & Butcher I'd like to restore...ideas?

This is a Wade & Butcher I'd like to restore. The photos are not great, lighting is bad. The blade is actually more shiny than this photo suggests. Also first time posting photos here. I have photoshop, so I cropped photos to not have empty space in frame. I also lowered res to 72 dpi for web, maybe that was a bad idea as the photos appear small.

I'll likely send it out to have on the of the guys here restore it.

Several questions...Although it is stamped Wade and Butcher Sheffield, can anyone help with an idea of year of manufacture? I ordered a book on amazon, not here yet. Don't know how much detail I'll find in that book when it arrives. Scales are aligned and blade is centered. Pins are tight. What material are the scales? Seems like a black plastic like feel, so suspect bakelite, but could be anything as I'm new to this.

Any possibility of saving the engraving on the blade? I know some questions cannot be answered from these photos. If engraving on blade cannot be saved, what are options, mainly just sand down smooth? Mirror finish or satin finish? Or can engraving be added again, or is that a bad idea?

Would a full restore involve removing scales and repin when blade is cleaned up?

What type of options do I have with a full restore? I know that may be a wide open question...but I really am curious.






Thanks,
MarkC

A good time to go to the Straight Razor Library!!

Straight Razor Place Library - Straight Razor Place Library
Enjoy your journey!
~Richard

Yup read all you can! The rest is up to you. Shiny or matte. The etch can be saved if you are willing to accept a bit of stain. Best advice I've found is a) go SLOW b) Use Harbor Freight flush cut pliers to remove the pins. Expect the pins to be bent. Don't force the scales to get them off, expect them to break easier than glass. Soak them in WD 40 if there is even slight resistance.
Don't use anything less than 600 grit paper, maybe 400, anything less is going leave deep scratches.
Avoid power tools unless advanced.
Did I mention going SLOW?

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