Thread: Rusty Iwasaki Razor

I'm new to this whole straight razor business so hope this is the right place to ask this question!?

I just bought myself an Iwasaki razor off eBay in the UK. The seller claimed to have only used it around five times, didn't get on with it, had it honed at Invisible Edge and put it up for sale along with a Dovo strop. I have no reason to believe that this isn't the case; it looks perfectly new to me and the edge took the hairs off my arm with the greatest of ease!

I was even more delighted when my mother unexpectedly offered to pay for it as a Christmas gift. This is probably the best gift I'll have received since the Millenium Falcon I was given aged 4!

Anyway, I was looking at it longingly today before re-boxing it to be wrapped for Christmas when I noticed what looked to be a small line of rust along the handle / spine of the razor where it is forge black. (Sorry, not sure if my terminology is quite correct)

I have attached two images, taken with my iphone so the definition isn't great, but will try to find a better camera and take more detailed shots later. (Have also just seen the photographing razors section in Wiki)

What I wondered was if this is rust, and I expect it is, what I could do about it? How may this affect the razor and could this be removed without removing the rather neat forge black? As it stands I coated the razor with a little mineral oil though know this isn't going to help the matter though I'm hoping may not make it worse?

Any help or suggestions would be greatly received.

Jamie