@PaulFLUS

Well you do have a point, there are three types of collectors ie: Us and Them and Them hehehe

Them being the "Scale" guys, they mostly are after the VERY rare Celluloid scales and have zero concern with the razors they sit on
I did some work for one of them over the years, he would send the Junk razors out and "Clean Blades" all he cared about were the Rare scales, and that they were CAREFULLY saved and repinned onto ANY clean steel.

It was a good deal for me because if he by chance sent a Valuable piece of steel he had no problem with me substituting another clean blade into the scales

As for the other Them, True Antique Collectors, restoration would be a Cardinal Sin, only enough to halt any more damage would be acceptable, I am not aware of many of those guys, a very few of the Reenactors have contacted me over the years to Restore some Civil War-era razors or to fashion a "Patch Knife"


Wood Scales - Honestly I have never seen them on any Factory - Artisan Vintage even stretching back into the 1700's they seem to be a homemade fix to broken scales
To my eye, it makes the razor that much more interesting because somebody took the time to keep it in service. I would have to see wooden scales offered in an old sales catalouge to change my mind

There are a couple of guys on here that are REALLY into the pre-1830 stuff they might know even more than I do g/l


Hope that helps