Thread: Le Grelot - suggestions for restoring?

Digging through some old boxes this morning, I've come across this razor which I picked up a few years ago on eBay for around £40-45. It was my intention to have it restored professionally, but I never quite got around to it, however inspecting it again I'm not sure there's much wrong with it and I feel like having a go myself.

Having never restored a razor before I thought I'd post a few pics and ask for suggestions on what you think would be a good way to go about it. There doesn't appear to be any damage to the scales or wedge, and I like the inlaid logo on the scale so I'd like to keep that if possible. The blade itself has some tarnishing, but no real pitting, no visible nicks on the edge, or major waving/warping to the edge or spine. My initial thinking is just to take it apart, clean it up, hone and repin. (Yep just that easy, though I have no idea at this point how to do any of that )

Here's the pics, tell me what you think:















Just noticed in the last photo of the scales that they bend quite unevenly, with the top scale being almost completely straight. It looks like the silver logo inlay created a weak point in the bottom scale there and so that's where all the flex takes place. No sure I'd call it a defect since I suspect it would always have been that way, and as I say there's no sign of cracks etc.

The spine has a lot of wear. I would just polish it up with Mother's or some other brand hone it and enjoy. You can straighten scales with hot water. I would be very careful you don't loosen the inlay. If it closes ok then leave it.

Agree with Bouschie on this one. That blade is in pretty good shape. I would just get the jug of Mothers out and shine her up nice. It really doesnt look like it has any rust to remove or problems that must be fixed. Again, I think I would leave the scales alone if they close well enough.

Am I seeing a bit of a frown at the heal? To correct that would mean to rework the heal/stabilizer. Now we're talking some work. The metal polish could end-up removing the etch on the blade face so go lightly with the polish. If I'm just seeing a frown because of the pic then clean and go. Remember that honing comes after its repinned. Do you know how to hone and/or Pin?
But as said above, with the ware on the spine, it might not be worth taking apart and fixing the stabilizer/we-working the edge, so clean and go would be better. Plus if its your first razor, have it pro honed. There is nothing worse than trying to learn to shave with a non-pro-honned razor.

So, I will end with Welcome to SRP!

Is this the frown you're referring to Gasman? The light in this photo is bleeding a bit so it's actually not as large a gap as it appears here:



To fix this you would remove that extra metal between the frown and the heel to straighten it out?

I've never honed a razor, no, but keen to learn how (by doing ).

There is indeed a slight frown. Honing with something around 240 grit for a few laps may take care of that. Go carefully and stop as soon as it all evens out.

As far as cosmetics, I wouldn't worry about that right now. Get it cleaned up a bit and sharpened and if it shaves well then use it. After a while go for a pro restoration if you want.

I agree you'll lose what's etched on the blade if you get too rough with the cleaning - just use a polish and rub carefully and lightly if you have to buff it up. A Barbisol soak may be the safest thing to get it sanitary again. Also agree that if the scales close, don't mess with them at this point. Clean it, hone out the frown, sharpen it, and use it. Nice blade and should shave well.

Nice find!