Thread: Old horn scales

I tried things out yesterday and only brought the water to a simmer and had it clamped with cloths pins and spacers holding the scales where I wanted them the cloths pins also held the hole thing off the bottom so none of the razor or scales came in contact with the pot, Then I removed from the water put into cold water to help set the scales. Dried real good replaced the spacers and cloths pins with dry ones oiled the blade really good and set in a safe spot to let the scales dry still clamped up with the spacers holding them in position. Now I just have to wait and see what happens when I unclamp them. I figure 24 hrs should do it. I also sanded the scales down a bit and got rid of almost all of the Fo torte look and almost all the bad scratches. I will see how the scales react to all this craziness then decide wether to keep messing with them, Leave them as is or replace them. Thanks every one for the advice. And I'll keep you posted.

OK I got the razor out of it's storage spot today and all the hard work has for the most part paid off. the scales are no longer pinching inwards and hitting the blade. It doesn't center perfectly so I have to still close it carefully and I'll have to tighten the pins tomorrow if I get a chance but over all it's a huge improvement from what it was. The second pic isn't the best but you can see that the blade bevel isn't hitting the inside of the scales any more. It used to dig into them a little at the toe end. Of corse I should have taken pics before during and after Sorry.

Good job at saving the scales Soon I'll be doing the same to a VERY abused Pipe razor, the blade is toast nearly rotted away. But the scales, while warped and slightly scaley, has a very good deep pressing into it and may be salvageable

Gandrw, great job. Now polish them up and they'l look the part. So much better than putting on aftermarket scales. The worst is when someone takes a blade like that and whacks on some illuminous kryptonite coloured G-10 or something similar. It happens though!

Dwarvenchef I'd like to see a Pic of the razor you are referring to even if it's really rough I love the pipe razors. I hope to get a decent one soon. You can post the pic in this thread.

Howdy gandrw I can only echo the guys who say good on you for trying to save the scales, I also have a W&B I'm currently restoring with horn scales, and although they have a few little chips along the edge I'm trying all I can to clean them up and keep them on, to be honest I've grown attached to the little chips as I've gone on with it lol, add character. I'd love to see a better shot of that inlay on your scales.

Geek

Here you go and a little clearer pic of the whole razor to.

That's a purdy razor, I have no inlay on mine, but i do have a barbers notch

Geek

Here is that Pipe razor... So far it has only been cleaned of debree and soaked in neetfoot oil, wiped off and set aside. I just rediscovered my dremil so I may start wire brushing the blade soon to see whats left. All else fails it will turn into a patch knife for muzzleloading I got it for a buck plus shipping and only for the scales

Shucks Dwarven chef that there razor is worth at least $300 bucks haven't you been paying attention to the bay lately the worse they look the more there worth that big chunk of the heal missing makes it Ultra Rare sorta like a 3 legged buffalo nickel when something is missing it's more valuable. At least that seems to be the general consensus between several sellers.

But on a serious note. Thats a shame the blade is gone, that had to have been a beautiful razor in it's day. But like most things some age better than others.

So you are trying to save the scales. Those are just a little worse than mine where when I started. If you unpin that and clamp them to a nice straight black of wood or something and put them in water then simmer I bet you could get them pretty straight and possibly save them for use on another Wosty.

I used wooden cloths pins and just put enough of them on that the whole length of the scales was covered completely it worked pretty good but would probably work even better when unpinned and clamped to something perfectly straight.