Thread: The Old English Razor Repair

I need advice on repairing a "The Old English Razor" wedge. You can see the damage in the picture near the end of the scales.

I can find a modest amount of information about the razor, and believe it most likely manufactured in the mid-1800s. But, could be wrong. Any information about this razor would be appreciated!

My lack of information about the razor illustrates my problem: I don't know what the scales are made from, and so don't know how to proceed with repair.

With a razor this old, (and I think it is), I don't want to replace the scales.

Looks like horn to me. If epoxy works for fixing the crack, you may be able to use CA (superglue) to seal the scales up, but I'm not sure if it works with Horn or not since I have only worked with wood so far.

I thought about horn, but the scales are almost translucent; a lot of light passes thru them. I assumed horn was denser.

It is hard to tell for sure. How do they smell after you rub the scales down?

They are horn with bug bites at the pin is how it looks to me. I've had a couple of those pass through and translucent horn is common. Sometimes dyed to look like tortoise shell. I don't know how to fix 'em but I would try epoxy or gorilla glue.

Smell... Interesting question! I buffed the backside of the scale with a Dremel brush, and it did smell like horn to some degree. (I've filed horn before in a different context.) It didn't smell like plastic. But, admittedly, the smell was not strong and I could be totally wrong.

I attached another picture with a scissors blade behind the scale to show the translucence. You can see what I mean about how much light passes thru.

Horn?

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

They are horn with bug bites at the pin ...

When I first saw the damage, my immediate thought was that it looked like worm holes. But, when I saw the translucence, I largely dismissed horn and thought it was probably some early bakelite-like substance. So, dismissed worm or bug holes.

You guys have about convinced me on the horn idea. I'll read up on horn...

What ever they are, I would think epoxy would be your best bet. If the crack has exposed a fair portion of the wedge/spacer it should be plenty strong if you epoxy the edges of the crack and the scale to the wedge/spacer. I have a WB with buffalo horn scales that had a similar crack that I fixed in this way. The repair is still visible, but it is as strong as new.

Well if it was celluloid or something similar, you would know. I made the mistake of sanding some old scales before reading all the info and I almost choked to death on the stench.

To quote Anchorman "It's quite pungent. It stings the nostrils"

Originally Posted by DPflaumer

Well if it was celluloid or something similar, you would know. I made the mistake of sanding some old scales before reading all the info and I almost choked to death on the stench.

I made sure to kick some of the scale material into the air as fine particles using a Dremel with a wire bristle brush. I applied the brush very slowly at first, and to the back side of the scale. It didn't harm the scale at all. Rather, it proved to be an efficient cleaning action.

If it was plastic, I believe I would have smelled it as you said above. And, I believe the wire brush would have eaten into the plastic or celluloid. (Wouldn't it have?)