Query? Restore or not to Restore

Bogie

Bogie

I'm not looking at you !
If you followed my post on Interesting Blade, you'd see this razor was a surprise as it was in a drawer inside of a paddle strop. That said, it is a false frameback and it is a heavy blade I would date the blade to no later than 1815 when the maker quit making blades ( out of business, probably passed 1815). The blade is now shave ready and provides a smooth close shave. I put some Flitz on the blade just to lift some of the aged patina from the steel. The wood scales are notched (bug bites?) and has damaged including a broken piece just past the pin. I'm debating on whether to restore the blade and replace scales or leave it as is. It is the oldest blade I have and I'm leaning toward leaving it as it is including the faint name scratched on one side and put it in the drawer and move on. Or, clean the blade and get it to sparkle best I can and slap some new abalone or G10 scales on it. Comments?

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jaro1069

jaro1069

Administrator
Staff member
Honestly I would probably NOT try to over do a restore I might would get the blade sharp and clean to be able to safely shave with it and I might ( probably would ) "stabilize" the scales.. Patch the crack and maybe "fill in" some of the bad places on the scales while NOT taking away from their originality .. It can only be original once... Or that's my feelings on it , for what they are worth....
 
jaro1069

jaro1069

Administrator
Staff member
I would lean more towards something to strengthen them like a glue or an epoxy.. Maybe something like they do in those videos where they take and " embed " them in the vacuum pot with epoxy or something else.. I think I saw something about cactus juice also or something like that.... I mean I haven't done that part personally yet but there are plenty of videos showing a how to on it....
 
Bogie

Bogie

I'm not looking at you !
Blade is really nice shaver. I decided to do the minimal. Smooth the scales with steel wool and sealed them with tung oil. Its not pretty but it is as found and displays its 200 year history proud.
 
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