Need an opinion

[medicevans]

I got this W&B from the 'Bay a few days ago and it showed up today. I had thoughts to rescale in horn, but it arrived with these really cool old wooden scales that have hand oil and grime worn into them and may or may not be original to the razor. The blade is unusable as is, what with all the red rust and such. I suppose it could be sanded smooth while in the scales to save the pins, but I hate to do that because it just doesn't seem like the right way to do it. Any opinions one way or the other? NBA ing the original scales gives it a "workingman's razor" kind of look IMO.

On the other side of things, I had planned to restore this razor to use as my first resto-resale, but I'm starting to form an emotional attachment to this blade. Make it stop!

[pcg]

Could you post a couple photos? That might help with any evaluation--

[ScottGoodman]

Dude, you should know better than to ask about a razor without pics!

[medicevans]

Dudes, I actually took a bunch of pictures before I even posted, because I've been here more than 5 minutes and I know what's expected! Lol. With no further ado, here they are:

**gosh dang it, my ass outran my head again and I hit send without postage the pictures AGAIN! One more time:

[pcg]

I'm afraid we'll need further adieu to be about to see these invisible photos! :-)

[ScottGoodman]

Dude...you tricked me!

[medicevans]

Lol. Hopefully the invisible pictures are better now. Kind of a case of "The Emperor's New Clothes" there for a second, eh?

[pcg]

I personally like it as is. A little clean up & you're working with a nice piece of history.

[ScottGoodman]

Dude! I like it...

Here's what I would do: take it to a 1K stone to ensure that the rust hasn't gotten too deep in the bevel. If you can find good clean steel, then I would clean up the rust and keep those old scales. I'm one of those guys who love the patina though...it's an old razor, let it be old. If you are a shiny steel kind of guy, then by all means clean it totally up and put some new horn scales on it. There is really no wrong, that's the cool thing about our hobby/sport is that as long as it provides a good shave. Sure we all have opinions, but it's your razor and it's your opinion that counts in regards to that razor.

[medicevans]

Yeah, I just like hearing other peoples' opinions and justifications in case there is something I haven't thought of. I'm still not sure what I want to do, and I'm not sure if I'm going to keep it or restore for resale. I think I need to decide that first. Or maybe not. Lol. I need to sleep.