Quote Originally Posted by Cutlersdream View Post
Hello guys,

Same as the title really, what to access first and in what order of importance? So not to bugger a razor up more than necessary

I know I can just post photos any time I get a new one but I don't like bother people if I can just get on with it, I've been reading for weeks now but still have holes obviously in my knowledge.

At the moment I check all the

-Rust
-scales ok leave on or off
-check edge chips and such
-sits flat both sides on the stones
-heel and stabilizer work
-check for frown
--match the edge to the spine in term of shape. (This is what I'm limited at in my knowledge, so if anyone's got a link to a thread describing this I would be grateful)

What else guys?

Many thanks
I either don't look at it much or I'm just so comfortable at this point in the game that I must subconsciouly do it without realizing
To be honest I have never seen a razor at an antique market that had ANY wear anyway let alone one that was honed to a wafer.
Really, if it looks decent, almost no rust, decent shape overall for a straight razor and really reasonable - buy it.
Edge condition means nothing. If I can't see a chip with my poor eyesight then its golden!!
Most times I find the geometry is great. I have two that were not. Really bad actually but those were bought online without noticable wear to indicate such things. Not that they were not honable but they looked like crap because of wonky wear.
I can put an edge on almost anything that will take one after 20 years. Its what I want to do to keep it and maintain it.
Given I have two razors and one is horrifically warped and one is perfect - which one would you hone more often.
They made crap back then too.
Wear be blended back in each time it starts to look off but its a hassle so I just leave it and hardly use them.
All other razors are straight and turn out to be fine shavers. Some better that others of course.
If there is any wear at all it will be uneven right from the start so easy to see.