Thread: Discolored Blades

OK, so I need some help from the "Steel Masters".

I have A few blades now that have some things in common.

1.) they were all used for years...decades...in barbershops.

2.) they are all Japanese made

3.) they all have a strange, rainbow hued darkening around the toe.

I've asked the barbers why that might be, and they had no idea. ONe of them said "All of my razors have that same discoloration. Maybe it's after honing, wiping, stropping and shaving however many thousands of people it's shaved...". Which is fair enough.

So my questions are:

What might cause this?

Is it indicative of any serious problems with the steel (I doubt it, they're all fantastic shavers...but what do I know?)

And

Might it be possible to clean this without major sanding?

Thanks,
Jim