Thread: New Member - First Post & First Razor

I moved this thread from the Razor Forum to the Workshop forum.

The rust at the edge scares me. You wont know what you have until you remove the rust and try to set a bevel I suppose.

I am not intending to use this blade anytime soon. I just want to clean it up nice. I really do worry that I will destroy the etching.

I still dont know anything about this razor. I have yet to figure out the maker or approx. age. I cant seem to find any information about the etching, or the BEST SILVER stamp...which I assume is a common stamp.

If that "Solingen" is put on the blade with a gold wash (rather that etched _into_ the blade), it's going to come off as soon as you touch it with sandpaper. [I haven't worked on gold-washed razors, but that's what everyone else says.]

If it's actually etched into the blade, you should be able to use fine sandpaper _around_ it to get rid of most of the rust, and metal polish for the rust spot(s) actually within the etched area.

Charles

UPDATE - So I have been working patiently on this balde and I am done with it. I dont mean completed...Just DONE.

I cannot get the black oxidation off without removing the etching, so I am stopping. The scales cleaned up nice and quickly, I still need to get new pins. I am considering consulting one of the resident experts and paying to finish this by more experienced hands.

This has been a learning experience and I am not giving up. I have a few more razors that I picked up, and I am going to keep trying.

From top to bottom: Taylor Eye Witness Plunkett Liverpool WEDGE -- Wade & Butcher (has a big chip and two cracks - SAD) -- H. Sabish English Steel Special Sheffield -- T.T.C Diamond Stamp Damascus Steel Etching (etching is almost gone completely, stamp is shallow also).


First up - T.T.C. this is a nice blade: Half Hollow 5/8 - my favorite only because the Wade and Butcher is ruined.

when I first looked at your photos, I agreed with what Ben said about that edge corrosion. It's still hard to say how it looks from the photos, and that could be an adventure.

One thing that I started doing (after receiving this advice from the resto sages), is honing the razor until the bevel was set before doing any other work unless I was really confident about the integrity of the edge. It's a kick to the chucks when you spend a few days hand sanding a blade, only to end up with a highly polished swiss cheese edge. Anyway, good luck!

I got the T.T.C. cleaned up nicely, the sanding took whatever was left of the etching clean off, and the makers stamp also. The blade appears to have a wavy gleam to it...maybe more sanding to smooth it out???

The Taylor "Eye Witness" - cleaned up very nice. I am having a hard time getting a really nice mirror finish though. Honing is needed, and I am waiting on materials for scales (MOP, Paua, and mammoth ivory). I have some nice gazelle horn (in hand) that I need to cut into slabs. I am undecided which I am going to use.

I am hoping to add pictures after work. *** Not a straight razor, but I was gifted a Gillette Fat Boy adjustable that is very clean, and a Fuller Badger brush also very clean.

Hi about the eye witness yours is a plunkett not a taylors from my understanding .Im only saying this because i just got one the same ,lime st liverpool is where it says they were made and i cant find any other info on them im thinking they should be made befor 1890 ish i will post pics when it finally arrives.

I know its hard to see in the scan, but the "Eye" is the makers stamp for Taylor's Eye Witness. This blade is a Taylor. If you can post a link that can show me some different information I would greatly appreciate it. All links and images of makers marks that I have found indicate this is a Taylor.

http://www.strazors.com/index.php?id...s_eye_witness_

This link will show the marks that the company has used. My razor has the "Eye" with WITNESS stamped under it.