Thread: My late Uncles Puma 6/8 w/crack.. Help

Hi All,

About a month our so ago, I was cleaning out my Uncles room, who passed last year, and found one of his razors. Unfortunately, its in really bad shape. There's a crack in the blade, right in the center, from the bevel/edge up.I would have loved to have something of his to shave with, but I figured it was a lost cause, after askibgg around a little. Anyway, im new to straights, and just got a starter razor (Catteraugus) from whipped dog. I figured id send him these photos of my uncles razor, to see maybe I could use the scales on a new razor, and he replied that he can hone the crack down, and make it a perfectly usable decent razor...that would be great, but he's the first to offer/recommend this. Everyone else said to polish it, and use it for display. What do you think?

Thanks for your help,
Basil

I think she's pooched. By the time you grind past the crack you may end up with a nice 3/8 shaping razor, but not much else. Sorry man, 'cause that was a very nice Puma, indeed.

That looks like it is done for IMHO.

An heirloom like that obviously has sentimental value, but getting that thing back into shaving order would really take a lot of work.
And, at least to me, the end result would not be anything I would use for shaving.
Sorry mate, but that's my 2 cents

It would have to be honed past the crack for good steel, that's quite a job.
I think Larry is being a true gentleman here, that's no small overhaul. Lots of honing to be done, and he might even have to correct the sholder as well.
I do believe him when he says he can fix it. Up to you really now, if you want it in a display cabinet or in your shaving rotation.

It's toast AFAIC ..... even if it was ground past the crack. IMHO ..... YMMV

Yea, keep her for show only. If you had no sentimental connection to it I'd say have at it, but since it belonged to your uncle, I think its best kept as momento.

Im gonna give it a go. Worst case I have a 3/8 razor for trimming my sideburns and edging my beard/goatee when I grow one. At least it'll be useful for something. And ill also add to the history of it. When my nephews or grandkids find it..itll still be a momento

I'd clean it up and use it as a nice display piece.

Originally Posted by Chefbaze

and he replied that he can hone the crack down, and make it a perfectly usable decent razor...

And I can eat 50 eggs...... But all actions have consequences. You will lose about 1/5 of the razor in such a repair & it will not shave as it was intended to.
It may well be usable but it will not look or act as it should.
I think it would honour your uncle's memory to keep the razor intact & as a display piece rather than make such a radical modification.

If you are determined to have something useful rather than just having a keepsake, people make excellent carving knives out of old beat up razors using the thick spine and half the blade. It wouldn't be a razor anymore, but it could be a fine sloyd knife.