Thread: Modding / Restoration WIP

Ah, but the idea is more that it's a considerable improvement for honing, while not actually making a difference in use because your hand is an infinitely more complex and adaptable piece of evolution/design than a single pivot on a razor. The payoff really for me is storage and travel (ha!), but then as I said - kamisori get designed with fixed handles... so perhaps it's saya time!

(Also the picture of my hand was to illustrate a point - you don't actually hold a knife with a hammer grip either.)

Just my humble opinion but, a traditional straight is held with the scales out straight like your knife handle straight for honing anyway so I don't really see how your design would be any easier to hone.

I reckon I would find yours much harder to shave with, I suppose it could maybe compared to a kamisori but I don't use those so I can't comment on that .

So, and I concede this may betray a complete misunderstanding of how others do it, but... when I hone one of my hinged razors I hold it like this:



Handle as you say is at 180, and my pinch is on the neck/tang - I can't hold the razor just by the handle because the pivot means it'd move around.

Like that - I think it would be easier if the sides of the neck weren't so (relatively) long and flat, and you also in most razors have assymetry between the top and bottom of the neck/tang which doesn't help.

The bigger factor for me though is the ability to hold the razor by the handle, further away from the stone, which allows more delicacy and precision when honing. I find it particularly helpful on smiley razors, or if needing to apply a some pressure for bevel-setting or repair - you can do it more accurately. Though it doesn't matter at all if you have a completely straight edge. The downside obviously of holding it further away is there's more potential to make a mistake and balls things up, but at least you have the option. I also find scaled handles quite long and bent and sometimes get in the way of your arm or wrist, though that's a minor factor and probably wouldn't happen at all if honing on a table (I do it in hand). Just my thoughts obviously - I personally do find fixed handles far better for honing.

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When I first made one I didn't know at all whether I'd like it for actually shaving, and was actually slightly surprised when I did. I wouldn't say I prefer them over a scaled, hinged handle, but for me they're no better or worse. Though as I said above - this very possibly has something to do with muscle memory not being built up as much.

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FWIW - having thought about it quite a lot over the last few months - my completely ideal razor handle would probably be hinged (can go past 180 like normal ones but also be folded for storage) , straighter, slightly rounder and less flat than traditional scales, but with a mechanism that allowed it to click or lock slightly in place at 180 for honing. Bit niche, and I wouldn't be able to do it myself, but that's what I think I'd like.


[Sorry about another sideways picture... I still don't know how to solve that!]

If you prefer those knife handle razors and find them easier to hone, then more power to ya, A respected honemeister here wisely said, there's more than one way to sharp and if yours works for you that's great.

I doubt if anyone here would disagree or tell you your'e wrong.

We all hone by holding the tang, honing or stropping by holding the scales would be awkward for me at least and certainly wouldn't do the razor much good. Actually I can imagine it costing me a finger or two

Indeed... many options in the cat-skinning game!

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I actually make custom (knife) handles and sharpen stuff for a living so: a.) I probably spend far too much time, all day every day, thinking about nonsense like this. And b.) Shouldn't really be saying stuff like - that, apart from balance, handles don't really matter much and are largely aesthetic. But gotta call it how you see it

I’m impressed by the fact that you aren’t using a fully-equipped knife makers shop to craft that handle - a hand held electric drill and a regular belt sander - WOW!! That encourages me to have a go at it.

I'm sorry, but this is just trying to reinventing the wheel IMHO.

Your also using knife honing practices, on a razor,
razors take a more gentle approach than a knife.

The grip you show is wrong as well. Its only going to lead to downward pressure to the spine, excessive hone wear, and possible deep metal damage within the blade. Touch points are the edges of the tang, not the sides.

Do what you will, I can respect that. But I'd really like to see if you can make a set of scales, wedge, and pin it up.

You do some nice work on the fixed handles, transfer that to a set of scales...... Which by the way...were never designed to be used as handles for honing or shaving.

Their design was to protect the object within, like the scales of a fish, or reptile.

You do nice work but I'm afraid you won't convince guys here who have decades of razoring under their belts.
For me I have to feel like the scales are barely there. Even with wakamisori I prefer the rat tail tang unbound. As for something like the Williams Purist I hate what is to me a bulky tang.

As you say the hand & muscle memory can adapt to many things. Just no reason for me change what works.

As for advice, if you want to persist with the concept, look at the shapes of something like Feather razors. There was a vintage maker that did a razor with a solid handle,slim & tapered it was, but can't for the life of me remember the name. Maybe someone knows the one ? I guess that makes my point. A lot of 'new" ideas become forgettable when things ain't broke.

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I do like what you have done. It looks very nice. I would agree that a "fixed" handle makes it easier to hone, especially when removing nicks on the edge of the blade. When I am performing the restoration of a typically scaled razor I will take 2 popsicle sticks and place one on each side of the scales then wrap the electrical tape tightly around the popsicle stick/scales. This gives me rigid tang/scales that do not move while honing. Years ago I did not do this on razors that required a complete recovery of the edge and bevel. The result was that occasionally the pivot pin would work loose (or the scale would crack at the pivot pin) and require me to retighten the pivot pin. So, I am in complete agreement with you on the advantages of the "fixed handle" idea for honing.
As noted this is a variation on the Japanese Kamasori style which I find very attractive.

Good work!

In your pic of the 5 stones, I was puzzled by your statement that the 3rd stone was a Tam O'Shanter. All of the Tam's that I have are either grayish or whiteish in color with numerous small speckles. They are also very difficult to work up a slurry.
Might yours be a Water of Ayr?