Thread: To pin or not to pin

I just received a lot of 5/8 NOS blades, with scales not attached. The scales are 3-piece but they have not been drilled anywhere, just glued together. So the spacers have not been drilled or pinned. Should I do it or should I just pin the blades and leave the spacers as they are? I want to keep these blades stock, but I don't want to create any safety issues.

I would pin the spacer end just because I think the razor looks kinda "naked" w/o a pin there. But I don't think there is any safety issue if you don't (provided it's glued properly).

Just an observation... Mastro Livi doesn't have a spacer pin (as he makes 1-piece scales) and it doesn't detract from the beauty of his pieces. (*)

(*) Ofcourse I am not trying to presume that these will be anywhere near the same league as Lido Livi pieces. This was just an observation and I'd still like to hear other opinions.

P.S. Thanks Joe and thanks in advance to everyone who chimes in

How about going a step further? Have one-piece scales, and for the pin that holds the razor, recess the pin and plug it with matching wood.

I was watching this auction but decided not to bid as it looked like a lot of trouble.

Josh

These razors are nice but I don't think it's worth my time to make custom scales for them (money-wise). So I'll include their stock scales with'em as soon as I determine whether to pin the wedges or not. Maybe I'll make that a free option.
As for their condition, on cursory inspection 9 of them look felt-pad fine and there's only one that will require extensive work (flap wheels). I'll probably save it for my own use.

The only razor I have without a wedge pin, is my all plexiglass scales where the wedge is super glued in place. The only time I'd wouldn't use a end-pin is when the wedge is the same material as the actual scales. Even still, I'd probably just pin it, especially if there's the shank-rest/third-pin anyway.