I have now restored about two handfuls of 19th Sheffield straights and made a few pairs of scales, and I am amazed by the workmanship of the original horn scales on these razors. The original scales are thin and flawlessly shaped, and the surfaces facing the blades on some are even concave. Shaping these things (the scales) takes me a long time, and requires great concentration and patience - and that's using a belt sander and plenty of sandpaper.
Does anyone know anything about how these guys made these things and what tools they used back then?
I assume they had grinding wheels - perhaps shaped specifically for making scales. Did they even have sandpaper back then?
Does anyone know anything about how these guys made these things and what tools they used back then?
I assume they had grinding wheels - perhaps shaped specifically for making scales. Did they even have sandpaper back then?