Thread: Need help deciding what to do - opinions please

A little while ago I bought a small lot of razors, and among them was an interesting little chap. Older fella, horn scales, seems perhaps reground to me but still a fun little rascal.

There's a couple issues here, mainly about the handles, and I can't seem to make my mind up. Bone handles, old but perhaps not original. From what I can see a lead spacer. I'd love to keep them, but there are a couple issues.

First of all, they are broken. Not in the pivot, and they have been repaired. I expect this to be a rather old repair as well, there's a pin running through it and it seems stable. Second, the scales are a little narrow. The blade does not safely sit inside, a small portion if the heel peeks out on the underside, making it humm, unsafe for kids I tried capturing it in pic but it is hard to see.

There really isn't too much to be cleaned up around the pivot, so it would be possible to get it shined up pretty good just with some q-tips or something. I could get by without taking the scales off, and I'm pretty sure this would kill them due to the makeshift repair. I soaked it in some oil for a few days, they have regained some translucency. I think I could just sand them and they should look pretty smart.

Second, the blade. there is some unevenness to it, especially on one side, which leads me to believe it may have had a brief encounter with a grinder or sandstone at one point. It is very near a full wedge tho, so I may be wrong. Anyways, I'm thinking to just leave it pretty much as is, without heavy sanding or major work, just some polish and the hones.

All in all, I guess this is a question about preserving it in old style, or taking it apart, making new scales and turn this into a mirror polished timeless piece.


Tried showing the heel peeking out below the scales, but not sure I nailed it. It is there tho, watch the fingers.


Some unevenness to this side, probably some wear from a sandstone or something. It may have had the profile altered.


Smoother side here. Stamp is nice and deep and even. The break in the scales is visible, and the repair pin as well.


Closeup of the break. It is running north-south in this pic, directly under the pin, and the repair pin is at 4-o'clock. Repair pin runs straight through the razor scales and is firm and steady.

Any inputs appreciated

Of course it's up to you, but you asked for opinions...
Maybe the scales are not original, but they probably still are over a hundred years old and I'd leave as it is, flaws and all.

+1, I agree with Utopian. If the repair is solid I'd leave well enough alone. The scales do look like they are older than the blade. IIRC by the time monkey tails were longer, like on that blade, the scales already had begun to be made with a curved profile. I'd bet money the blade that was originally in those scales was a stub tail from the early 1800s.

Oh, and as far as the heel projecting under the scales, fuhgedabowdit!

In another 50 or 75 years of honing it will fit in just fine!

Those scales are beautiful, they have the patina and wear that comes form years of use. I think Jimmy's guess is to where the scales came from is right. My choice would be a very light cleaning then hone and use.

Charlie

Yep, leave original and as is. It's way to old and special to mess with.

Thanks guys, good to hear - I'm thrilled to hear the scales may be even older than the blade itself. Interesting that a stub tail may have lived in there, I need to get my hands on one of those.

It is hard being a new guy with limited knowledge venturing into the land of restoring. So many things I don't know, and I certainly don't want to go down in history as "the silly guy that broke a fine 100 year + razor"

Thank you all for your inputs, it is much appreciated. I promise I'll treat it with care Guess I'll just give the scales an oil scrub and clean the metal. Will be a treat to shave with this thing, looking forward to it.