Thread: At what point will this Wade and Butcher need a regrind?

I recently won this W&B from an ebay auction and I was hoping I could get some opinions on if/when it might need a regrind. I've gone over it with some mothers and got off the superficial rust. The etching is intact enough. Originally, I thought I would go ahead and make the blade a mirror finish. The honewear is more significant at the toe of the blade and I was curious how many honeings it could go through before needing to be reground. No point in dumping time into a mirror finish if it will have to hit the grinding wheels soon.






Cheers

I do not think so
You would want a regirnd to correct for extreme pitting, or extreme hone wear. You do not have either of those on your blade.
As a matter of fact your razor has a very nice grind with pretty even hone wear.

If you use it to shave daily for the next 50 - 60 years, it might need a regrind if you hone it a lot.

Guess I'll go ahead and get it to a mirror finish then. Thanks for the input, gents.

Cheers

Most people that want a regrind is because they like to get rid of patina/pitting/Devil's spit and or spine/edge wear. Sometimes an uneven hone wear too as it can become a pain to hone the razor. You can go both directions. You can easily continue shaving with this razor as is but if aesthetics are important to you then yes, you can have it regrind anytime and get rid of all the mentioned blemishes.

I was curious about the regrind mainly because the toe of the wedge. There is about 3/16 of steel from the tip to the barbers notch and I wasn't sure how that would play in for honing and keeping an edge. I haven't honed anything yet (still need to get my stones) and from what I have heard, wedges are a bit more difficult to hone. I probably won't be able to get out all of the pitting, but that's really quite alright with me. While we are all here, can anyone give me a time frame on the razor?

Originally Posted by Jonah

can anyone give me a time frame on the razor?

I can't see the stamp on that tang, but if there is no "Made In England" than it is before 1889. IIRC that is when the mfgs had to have country of origin stamped on them. Beyond that, maybe 1850s or beyond. I'm not sure when they quit making wedges like that. I'd say it is an oldie though. I happen to like shaving with razors like that very much.

If you aren't proficient at honing I would say send it out to a pro honer or put it away until you're successful with a few others before you start on that one. Use a layer of tape on the spine also.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I can't see the stamp on that tang, but if there is no "Made In England" than it is before 1889. IIRC that is when the mfgs had to have country of origin stamped on them. Beyond that, maybe 1850s or beyond. I'm not sure when they quit making wedges like that. I'd say it is an oldie though. I happen to like shaving with razors like that very much.

If you aren't proficient at honing I would say send it out to a pro honer or put it away until you're successful with a few others before you start on that one. Use a layer of tape on the spine also.

I read the other day that W&B's after 18xx time frame are somewhat common, while ones before 18yy tend to be more hard to come by. The etching on it says "Fine India Steel". I got it from this auction - Vintage Wade Butcher Fine India Steel 13 16" Straight Razor w Box Sheffield | eBay

If it is indeed an older one, I imagine it would be better to not sand it down. There is still some patina and darkening, and I used mothers with a pretty non abrasive cloth. I figured I would send this guy off to Lynn.

Originally Posted by Jonah

I read the other day that W&B's after 18xx time frame are somewhat common, while ones before 18yy tend to be more hard to come by. The etching on it says "Fine India Steel". I got it from this auction - Vintage Wade Butcher Fine India Steel 13 16" Straight Razor w Box Sheffield | eBay

If it is indeed an older one, I imagine it would be better to not sand it down. There is still some patina and darkening, and I used mothers with a pretty non abrasive cloth. I figured I would send this guy off to Lynn.

Yeah that is an oldie with that etching. I wouldn't do too much beyond metal polish for fear of losing the etch.

You should delete that listing ........ "they" might come and get you because you stole it !

Sending it to Lynn is good thinking. That is not one I would want to break into honing with.

I like the look of the Wade and Butchers a lot, but the main reason I bid on this guy was the etching and the pretty low price. I was actually mildly surprised when I won it

The horn scales are in pretty good shape, too. There are a few bug bites but it isn't too bad, and same with the coffin case. I have some nice wood I'll be cutting up for scales and I'll make sure to post the finished product. Thanks for letting me know what I have, it would have been slightly tragic had I ruined this razor by attempting to make it new