Interesting new blade

[Bogie]

Just picked up a Jon Engstrom frameback in 'ivory'. The edge seemed to be really close on a thumbnail test. I started with a 1k shapton and after a number of passes, found a section of blade that was not hitting the stone. My first thought was the blade had a bit of a frown in one place. I took the blade to 250 and it still seemed to miss one place. I did a slight breadknifing to ensure the blade edge was symmetrical. However, when examining the othe side of the blade, it was taking a change/hone along the entire edge. That said, I worked the one side that was not connecting only to find the section of the frameback that corresponded with the gap in the honing seemed to be a bit out of plane. Once I worked that one side with a 250 stone, I could see the flattening in the frameback corresponding to the gap. After flattening the edge on the framback, the blade started showing a new sheen. Although not a consistent bevel, is was a fresh edge. I then went on to a 4K, 8K, coticule, and a Jnat. It shaved just perfectly.
Now the sweet part of the story, This was an ebay purchase and the seller sent the wrong blade, it was an Engstrom frameback identical except it was in horn. The seller said keep the mistake and he sent the one in ivory. After getting the ivory blade sharpened, I found the first blade in horn was just about shave ready. It is in neatsfoot oil for a day or two before I dress up the edge. I guess the message here is that although I have found blades ground uneven, this was my first experience with a frame back where the frame wasn't just right. On the second (mistake) blade, it was really close on receipt. Two Engstrom blades for $30, not a bad deal!

 

[Leatherstockings]

I’d like to see pics when the razor is ready.

 

[jaro1069]

I agree , Pictures please ....

Remember that if we don't see it , it didn't happen....

 

[Bogie]

About the only pix I can offer is the finished edge if I can get detail. I usually use tape on the spine, however on this blade I chose not to until I saw the uneven hone marks. At that point, I went with tape to mitigate hone wear on the spine. Therfore, I can't provide a good picture of the hone wear consistent with my observations. I'll see if I can demonstrate it with a picture of each side of the blade edge which might show what I found where one side was good and the other not so much. You are right, without pictures it didn't happen, however as a retired cop, without the pictures there is no indictment!

 

[Bogie]

Wow! this just got more interesting. Like a prize in a crackerjack box. This got even sweeter. The paddle strop 'John Atwell's improved Elastic Strop' is unique but in pretty poor condition. the writing is sparsley legible. The paddle strop has a metal side coated with abrasive and the other with a piece of leather. There seemed to be something under the metal side I thought was there to support the thin metal side. It wasn't. It is a drawer that slid under the metal. I almost had discarded this due to its condition. I pulled the drawer out and it disclosed a full wedge razor made by Shepherd Brother's Sheffield. The blade will only need a polish and minor honing as the blade is damn close now. The handles are in poor shape with unique washer/bolsters. I'm debating on doing minimal restoration on the wood handles or having someone put some nice bone or abalone scales on it. Thoughts? I bought one razor and got three. Not a bad deal. The paddle strop I believe to be 1890's or there about. The razor as best I can determine is likely 1815 or there about.