For me it depends on the razor...

I'm only on my second restore, but SRAD hit me pretty good in Nov.-Dec. so I've got a pile of about 25 to work on.

Since I love history and things that have seen a significant part of it, my preferences and plans for the old ones are:
  • If it's in decent shape or better: just clean it up and make it serviceable -- a good wash, bit of a hand polish, hone it, then use it
  • If it's rather damaged: restore it to as close as original I can -- using as many of the original parts as possible

But, there are one or two with scales that are just so incredibly bland or ugly that, to my eye, they're just screaming to be given a spiffy new suit.