Thread: Am I a bad person for wanting to replace horn scales?

I've got a couple of razors that have warped or bent horn scales. Now, I've figured out how to wet sand and polish them so the look almost new, but they are still warped.

I've been working a lot with Micarta lately and can re-create a similar look with black paper reasonably easily. I also just picked up a piece of figured purpleheart.

Is it wrong to not want to re-use the horn on the razors? Maybe I should just put the scales in the restoration box and maybe another blade will call for them in the future. The horn is in good shape, so I won't be getting rid of it.

Here is a tutorial from Glen on straightening horn scales in the SRP Wiki.

Yeah, I've seen that, but you really didn't answer the question? Am I a bad man or not?

Originally Posted by dnjrboy

Yeah, I've seen that, but you really didn't answer the question? Am I a bad man or not?

No, not bad.....confused maybe?

Would you pull a fully functioning tranny out of a numbers-matching '69 Camaro RS? I say leave them alone unless they are damaged and need to be replaced.

I say you do whatever you feel like doing. If you have the means and feel that replacing them with a new made set of scales will make you enjoy the razor even more, go ahead. Unless it's a very rare collectable razor I would say keep as original as possible.

Originally Posted by dnjrboy

Yeah, I've seen that, but you really didn't answer the question? Am I a bad man or not?

...Yes....

I find most rescales tacky. While interestuing design pieces and in some rare cases also pieces of good craftsmanship, the average rescale is perforned by people with little to no knowledge of design basics, which leads to aesthetically questionable choices of scale materials (yes, I find that abalone or grainy wooden scales should be outlawed), and shapes.
De gustibus and all that. If it makes you happy, that's great. Personally, I would always try to retain the razor in its original state.

Originally Posted by dnjrboy

Yeah, I've seen that, but you really didn't answer the question? Am I a bad man or not?

No, not a bad man.

Scales are protective (necessary) and decorative (optional).
Heck some folk never take the clear plastic off their lamp shade.

If you take them off and want to be generous I will pay
postage and take them off your hands...

Evil wicked man Just kidding !!!

Seriously, do what makes you happy but maybe put them aside if you go micarta. One day you may choose to use them.