There are a number of reasons for me to proceed to rescaling a straight razor, which can mainly be classified in the following categories:
1. It is a used vintage that needs to be refurbished and has been obtained without or with broken scales;
2. It is an only blade unused new vintage one (old before WW II stock; rare, (not covered in this thread);
3. I obtained a copy from a custom maker who supplies unscaled blades (rare) to anyone on request in a certain version; (not covered in this thread);
4. The scales have one or more of the following negative properties: they are insignificant; bear no name or brand; undetectable identity; cheap; bad quality; bad material; thirteen on a dozen; the blade does not close properly; walks skewed and annoying not dead center and just name some other of those qualities that qualify as lousy, dredge and/or bullsh*t.
5. The original (plastic/bakelite) scales have given up the ghost during use. Often a fracture at the pivot point.
6. Fun, see 1 to 6.
The razors I've featured in one image below (I shall add individual pics on request), are all rescaled in my "brass" period, mini brass bolds&nuts and all have a stag horn wedge and deliver a flawless shave.
I will discuss them individually or in pairs, from left to right.
a. Two Gong razors (Gong was one of the trade marks of the brand Ern), both 22.5 mm (a 6/8th +). No 1 Bocote. No. 2 Ebony. Category 1;
b. An Ator razor. A trade mark from ERN; there is ER on the backside of the tang. One of my favorites. 6/8th +. Mind, no stabilizer but a heavier and extended tang that always attracts attention. Ebony. Category 1;
c. A Royal Crown Razor; maker unknown. Quite often offered on Ebay etc. but most of the time only in a condition suitable for cutting small shallots that you then throw away; 6/8th+. Few straights have a deeply edged mark on both the tang and the blade. White Ebony. Category 1.;
d. One when I bought it unused razor with a perfect 1/1 hollow 7/8th + blade. Great razor with as only markings: "Handarbeit Solingen". Cocobolo (pity, darkened by the light). Category 4.;
e. as a tribute to Salamander, last but not least to satisfy his lust for "norm" razors
, a 5/8th J.A. Henckels (shown earlier); My first straight bought in 1973. Ebony. Category 5.
