Can this be saved?

[TheTrunkDr]

Hello all, I'm new here and new to straight razor shaving. I got a Shavette to give this sort of shaving a try and I quite like it so I'm now considering buying a straight. I've gotten a hold of an old Gotta straight razor that my mother in law had hidden away in a closet, it's quite rusty. It's a hallow grind and I'm wondering if it can be restored or if I should just scrap it a buy a new one? I would really love some opinions on it.

 

[Mike H]

Welcome to B&B. The razor has some hone wear, a frown, and rust. On the plus side, it is a family razor, scales look good, and it is a quality brand. If your thinking about straight razors, consider picking up a shave ready razor off the BST or whippeddog.com. These options will be cheaper than having your razor restored. If you have the time, you might consider restoring the razor yourself.


Hand Sanding - http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/169574-Hand-sanding-progression

 

[johnmrson]

I think that razor has seen it's last shave. There looks to be some pretty deep rust spots near the edge which is too thin to do anything with.

 

[paco664]

it will clean up..... *(or at least i think there is a decent chance it will)....

 

[TheTrunkDr]

Hmm, I was hoping for something a little more definite. I've been debating getting a new one instead for a little while but anything in the same price range isn't going to be as good in quality from what I understand. Thanks all seems I'll have to think about it a little more.

 

[paco664]

Hmm, I was hoping for something a little more definite. I've been debating getting a new one instead for a little while but anything in the same price range isn't going to be as good in quality from what I understand. Thanks all seems I'll have to think about it a little more.

post some close up photos... better photos and we will get a better look at it....

take some 220 wet or dry and knock that rust off the blade.... then we will really be able to help....

i personally think it will come out fine.... if nothing else it will be a cheap learning experience for you...

 

[TheTrunkDr]

post some close up photos... better photos and we will get a better look at it....

take some 220 wet or dry and knock that rust off the blade.... then we will really be able to help....

i personally think it will come out fine.... if nothing else it will be a cheap learning experience for you...

Alright I got around to sanding it as suggested, you'll have to excuse the photos my camera (and skills) leave a little to be desired. There's some significant pitting going on here from what I can tell. The first and third photos have me particularly worried as both seem quite deep and that trench in the third seems pretty significant.

 

[paco664]

it will be fine....

the edge is clean*(ish)... it will make a great practice razor for honing and probably shave pretty durn good too...

 

[Kavik79]

The pitting on the side of the blade may be ugly, but shouldn't interfere with anything......what you need to be worried about is the pitting that's on/near the edge

third pic in your first post, looking from left to right: the first group of pitting on the edge would have to be honed through till you find good steel, by the time you get through that you're going to be into the third group of pitting, right around the middle of the blade. By the time you get through that you're into the second group of pitting. By the time you get through that you're down to half it's original width and well into the stabilizers

That's what it looks like from the pics anyway, sometimes it's hard to say without having the blade in front of you, but those spots look pretty bad from this side of the screen


Is it worth anything to you for sentimentality? It could be a decent bit of practice for sanding an polishing for your next restoration. Shine it up and this time oil it before sticking it in another box in another closet. Could even be fine to practice honing on maybe. But if it's as bad in person as it looks in the pics, I wouldn't put it against my throat