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Have not bought this yet, dunno if this is an actual straight or something used for bloodletting. It's a J.R. Torrey with translucent scales, some pearl type overlay on the tang and and the point is a shape I don't think I've ever seen. The spine and tip taper back to a point, almost like a dull edge, dunno how else to describe that. The shop keep let me snap a few photos with my camera phone...
Any thoughts???
I'd buy that in a NY minute .... and that is a pair of seconds. :) I believe that is a French point ? One way or the other I would jump on that.
Edit; if the rust near the edge wasn't too bad ... i.e. pitted.
That would be a French point and the covered tang could be a MOP or Ivory or it may just be celluliod? Either way if the price is right it could be cleaned up and be a very nice razor.
it's only $25, so yea the price is right but the rust near the edge is heavy, gonna go back tomorrow with my loupe and see what I can discover.
and the picture of the tang is deceiving, it's clearly not ivory when you see it up close, looks iridescent like pearl but dunno if it's fake or not
I'd be slightly worried about cell rot on that blade -- the translucent celluloid is the most common type associated with cell rot -- and the location of rust on the blade seems to suggest that might be the case...of course this is all judging by a cell phone picture, so, who knows.
Here is an example of cellrot -- if it looks like this, pass on it :D
http://www.adrian.edu/%7Ebmaggard/razor/before9.JPG
Definitely return and check it out!
considering the rust patterns there's probably a very good chance that is cel rot. honestly the scales are very pretty but don't match the tang overlay as well as they could IMO. If I buy it I would certainly want to try and restore the scales but if it looks too much like cel rot I'd probably just replace em.
snap it up man! Then rescale the heck out of it. I'm dying to see some more of your inlay work!! I know you could find something to really set off the tang sheathing.
There seem to be a lot of rust on the edge, you would have to cut away much of the rusting steel from the edge to get to clean steel.
The scales are nice, and you may want to move them to another blade, but if the scales caused the current blade to tarnish, then chances are any other blade you put them on will start tarnishing as well (cell rot?).
Conclusion: If the blade has much tarnish at a the edge, then walk away from that one.
+1 on your inlay work, I liked that drop style inlay.
Go back, check it out and offer him 20 dollars and quote 'not a penny more.'
I reckon thats a MOP tang, I have seen similar cladding on Torreys before. It should make one hell of a shaver from what Ive read about them, although Ive never experienced American steel myself yet.
That spine looks to be an arris or diamond type from what you described. Get a sectional photo of it to confirm. And thats definately a French point, although a very sharp looking one!
I went back today not even thinking that most antique stores are closed Sunday. I was planning on offering $20 for it and risking there being a bad edge as there is a lot of rust on the edge. Could be superficial or could be deep.
I already have an idea for rescale and yes it does include inlay work but we'll have to wait and see if I get it.
**EDIT**
I've been inspecting the pictures and if you look, the heavier rust follows the transparent orange color.
If I manage to get this blade I will rescale, clean the old scales and put em in a box with a piece of random polished steel and see if it rusts. If I see rust they go in the trash, if I don't they will be held for a future restore. Or perhaps I will cut out the piece that does not appear to be causing rust and use that as inlay material. We'll see.
I picked it up for $15 and can't wait to start working on it. The rust looks like it may be mostly superficial but we'll have to see when I start working on it.
Here are some better pictures (it's a JR Torrey btw)...
$15, great price for a good looking razor. I woiuld have paid $25 for it in a second. Congrats!
I'll keep my fingers crossed for you and hope the blade holds up.
You could do some really outstanding stuff with that blade.
Good luck and keep us posted!
Its a sweet looking razor, looking forward to seeing how it turns out.
Grant
That shure looks like a Torrey 992 I got one about 5 months ago she cleaned up well and is a now a good shaver.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...torrey-992.jpg
The patient is in stable but critical condition. After 400grit using my vibrating sander, most the damage is gone so it was mostly superficial (and the remaining black spots are not that deep). Looks like I may have rescued this one just in time...
the tang cover looks like pearl
nice looking American-made razor :D
:yvery coolQuote:
Originally Posted by TheBaron
I can't wait to see the finished product, your work speaks well. Um one question, are these covered tangs fairly rare? I've just seen a few here and there online, and none at all in the antique shops I frequent.
Finally got a chance to get back to this one for a bit, I didn't get all the pitting and scars out but I want it that way for the final product. Battle scars or not, I think this one is going to be a good save. Time to craft this beauty some legs...
(and yes, that is the camera you see in the reflection of the blade)
Really? i thought it was a UFO!
Your blade looks great, and Im impressed with your work so far, but not as much as I am with your find for a mere 15 dollars.
Damn, thats not even 10 UK pounds! For a French point with a covered tang!!
I love French points, and clad tangs. Neither do you see very often, and never have I witnessed these features simultaneously, and on American steel!
What are your ideas for scales? Ive got a 5/8 square point Hibbard Spencer Bartlett & Co with a pearl tang. Im thinking of ebony with pearl inlays, or just ebony. The black contrasts really well with the pearl..
I haven't decided on the wood yet or finalized the design for the scales, but I was certainly looking to attempt MOP inlays.
I picked up a razor very similar to this on e-Bay.
It took a crapshoot and there is some nice rust on the edge :( I haven't put any time into it yet, but I'm REALLY hoping I can salvage it.
I love those covered tang razors. I picked up a Keen Kutter on ebay which appears to be NOS :)