John Barber Comeback!

I didn't feel the need to document the whole damn build this time, but look at what a couple of hours and $8 worth of wet dry sandpaper can do to a 175 year old blade.

Before
http://tapatalk.com/mu/a6898f8a-17c4-0f7b.jpg
http://tapatalk.com/mu/a6898f8a-17dc-b235.jpg

After
http://tapatalk.com/mu/a6898f8a-1862-77e7.jpg
http://tapatalk.com/mu/a6898f8a-187c-69cb.jpg
http://tapatalk.com/mu/a6898f8a-1893-dcd4.jpg
http://tapatalk.com/mu/a6898f8a-18e5-ed87.jpg

You can see that I left a little bit of pitting on the tang around the makers mark. The j and the o were starting to disappear and I wasn't going to take any chances. It's old enough, I don't want it to look like a new blade anyway. Had someone not tried to [poorly] clean the blade up before I got to it, I'd have just left it alone.

I'm telling you guys, it's a high to get a blade this old back in beautiful shape again. I'm ready to get it honed and shave with this piece of history! It was made around the time when Andrew Jackson was president! Think about that! Sorry I'm a little bit excited. Now, to find a true stubtail.......

John Barber is looking proud!

Looking sharp!

I would like to rescale it in period correct materials, something that would have been seen on a higher end razor of the time period. Ideas? Also, would a higher end piece have had a mid-scale pin?

Ivory would be the classic high end material, but horn is always good considering the availabilty and cost of legal ivory. The 3rd pin is I believe a later invention.

Yeah.......I'm pretty, like 100%, sure my wife wouldn't go for me spending the money needed for real ivory scales, as much as I'd like to! Is there something that comes close? I've thought about honey ox horn, but I'm just not sure.

Do you know about how much later the third pin came about?

Ox horn would be a good choice. Translucent horn was commonly used, more expensive razors being decorated with pressings or inlays.

Where would I find translucent horn? I don't see anything like that on masecraft.

Look at their Buffalo horn, the lighter blond colors are pretty translucent.

Attachment 74450

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Originally Posted by WBK

Look at their Buffalo horn, the lighter blond colors are pretty translucent.

Attachment 74450

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The darker one is pretty nice one.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by medicevans

I would like to rescale it in period correct materials, something that would have been seen on a higher end razor of the time period. Ideas? Also, would a higher end piece have had a mid-scale pin?

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I would expect to see fancy turtleshell, studded & engraved ivory, or worked bone scales on a higher end razor of the time period. It seems like horn scales and homemade jobs are most commonly seen today on the other vintage razors from that period

impressive display of elbow grease and tenacity.... that is going to be a beautiful work of art when you complete it!!

**double post removed**

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hoglahoo

I would expect to see fancy turtleshell, studded & engraved ivory, or worked bone scales on a higher end razor of the time period. It seems like horn scales and homemade jobs are most commonly seen today on the other vintage razors from that period

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What is studded ivory?


Thanks paco. It's not perfect by any means. Certainly not up to par where I'd like to be, but I guess it isn't bad for hand sanding. If I had buffers I think I could get the rest of the black off the blade. I think I'm going to go back with 800 grit and try to get the rest of the pitting around the tang. Maybe, I don't know yet. I am loathe to ruin a good thing by trying to get a great thing.

Dude thats PORN! so nice!

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Originally Posted by savalis1971

Dude thats PORN! so nice!

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Thank you! Wait until it's scaled. It will be mid August before it gets done, but subscribe to the thread. It's gonna be great!

I'll give everyone a hint:
http://tapatalk.com/mu/a6898e0a-461a-5617.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by medicevans

What is studded ivory?


Thanks paco. It's not perfect by any means. Certainly not up to par where I'd like to be, but I guess it isn't bad for hand sanding. If I had buffers I think I could get the rest of the black off the blade. I think I'm going to go back with 800 grit and try to get the rest of the pitting around the tang. Maybe, I don't know yet. I am loathe to ruin a good thing by trying to get a great thing.

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i totally agree.... you IMHO have brought out the best in that without the risk of ruining it....


do no harm... :D.... keep up the great work... if you need razors to practice on i have a whole box full.... lol....

Well........I got bored at work today. I know, that's the worst thing that could have happened to me. Anyway, I started back on 400 grit on the back of the tang and 400 on the blade. There were some scratches on the blade from lower grits that I didn't get out the first time and I just can't leave them like that. Especially not on this blade with the money and time that I'm going to spend on the scales.

I'm out of 400 grit at the moment and my family leaves for vacation tomorrow evening, so it will be the second week of August before I get anything more accomplished on this thing. My plans are to take it up to 2000 grit and then get some classy looking scales drawn up. If anyone wants to pm me a picture of scales they like, I'm open to ideas and suggestions.

cant wait to see the finished project!