Thread: Blade or Scales? What is finished first?

Everyone, I am not sure how other restorers feel, but I personally can't get motivated to work on scales until the blade is finished.

Do others feel the same way?

Im not surprised! Ive restored several razors using the original scales, and rescaled one blade.

However my gut feeling is that until you have a nice shiny blade in original condition (well, better than original in many cases - as many bladesmiths prior to 1900 would not have taken them to mirror finish) one can not determine the scale design, material or even hardware to complement that beautiful blade.

And personally when I did my only rescale I found that as I like to work in order, it only seemed correct to go about finishing the blade first so I could then view it in its full glory against material and shape options.

Regards

I always do the blade first. That way, if the blade breaks (and it has happened to me), I'm nit stuck with a set of scales that doesn't fit anything.

I do the blade first but during the resto process I am working on designs and looking at what wood would look the best. Sometimes I kinda get a feeling as to what the razor would feel more comfortable resting in.
DAM I think I'm losing my mind. The razors are channeling me LOL.

I usually start with the part that needs the most done.

I like to finish a blade first, but sometimes (like now) I'll make some scale stock runs.

I have 3 gabon ebony sets of scales in the finishing stage.