Thread: Advice on these razors, please

I've been shaving with a DE safety razor for a few years now and managed to convert one of my brothers. During those conversations, I started thinking more and more about SR's...and landed at this site. I have made some knives (have a forge, anvil, etc.) and would like to make some SR's, but thought it might be better to start out by getting some older ones for patterns and such.

So, I searched some local antique stores, but not much there. I ended up opting for e-bay (a bit dangerous for a newby, I know...) and finally won a couple. I was hoping you experienced folks might be able to help me decide on what to do with each of them?

The first is a Geo Wostenholm & Sons razor with a pipe stamped on one side of the tang. There appears to be a fair amount of hone wear on the spine, but seems to be pretty even. No cracks that I can see and only some very small dings in the blade edge.














The second in the next post....



Jeremy

The second is a Cattaraugus Cutlery Company razor. The blade is marked that with Little Valley, N.Y. under it. On the opposite side of the blade is 129. Under that and barely even visible (almost didn't see it) is something else etched: adesty & Son (can't make out the letters in front of adesty). On the spine is what appears to be PAT FEB. 8, 1902. It also has some hone wear (not as much as the other) on the spine with some very small dings in the blade edge and a covered tang.
















So, I guess I have a few questions. Anybody have some information on these razors or opinions on whether or not I'm an idiot for buying them (and don't worry, I have thick skin ). Also, I'm kind of leaning towards not doing a complete restoration on these, but might consider it on the Wostenholm & Sons. I just don't think I want to mess with the covers on the tang on the Cattaraugus...


I figure I'll send them to someone who can hone these back up-that is if you all think these are in good enough shape for shaving. Thanks for any help.


Jeremy

Welcome - great blades - I'll let those who know better advise you but I am thinking you got lucky for a noob .

Once you clean them up and get them honed they should be good shavers. I like that second razor. Oh and Welcome to SRP.

Can't speak to the Cattaraugus as I've never used one, but have read very good things about them here in the past. Once you get the Wostenholm honed up, I bet you'll love it. They made fantastic blades. And thanks for the reminder... I've had a Pipe razor stuck mid-restore for a while that I need to get back on.

Thanks guys-I tried to do my reasearch on here and make sure the brands were good. Glad it appears they'll be good razors. The more I read through different threads on this forum and see some pictures, the more I'm thinking I may have a go at the Wostenholm. I'm not crazy about the scales and it doesn't have some of the really faint etching the Cattaraugus has that would likely be completely lost with some sanding. Not thinking I'll go for the really nice, mirror polish, but I think I'd like to see it shined up a bit.

I'm wondering now about which material to use for scales... I have some nice woods from my knife making supplies (Bocote, African Blackwood, Lacewood, Satinwood, Cocobolo and on and on....). I'm considering using some thin sheet I have of either nickel silver or 416 stainless to line the scales with-any thoughts? Or should I just go with the wood and call it good? I've heard some say Bocote can tend to move a little more when wet?

Jeremy

Originally Posted by gudspelr

I'm considering using some thin sheet I have of either nickel silver or 416 stainless to line the scales with-any thoughts? Or should I just go with the wood and call it good? I've heard some say Bocote can tend to move a little more when wet?

Jeremy

Weight and balance are a hard thing to master when making scales. Liners are way cool but add weight. I don't know why we don't have any skeleton liners... at least i have never seen them. Either way. Once you do it a few times, taking them off and putting new ones on isn't a big deal if you don't like what you have done.

Good Luck! Can't wait to see a pic when you are done!