Mismatched bevels

[Plot Device]

I just bought a straight razor on ebay. (Wade & Butcher) It seems shave ready (my first razor), but there's an odd problem with it. If you look at the blade directly end-on, the bevels on the two sides are different. (It's hollow ground.) I don't have a camera, but the best way to describe it is, if you rested it on the spine and the edge of the blade, on a level surface, as if you were going to hone it, and measured the angle by resting a protractor on top, the angle would be different depending on which side you rested it on. It's a significant difference, a *lot* of metal would have to be removed from the spine to fix it. It looks rather as if only one side was honed over many years.

So my question is, should I just not worry about it? Is this a standard thing with this brand of razor? It seems like something that won't necessarily affect the shave (I only plan on using one hand, therefore one side of the blade.)

Should I shave with the steep or shallow side?

 

[Dharion]

Chances are it has either received an awful hone-job or it's a microtome. Look it up, you'll find a picture you can compare to your razor.

 

[Plot Device]

It's not a microtome. It's a folding straight-razor.

 

[LessLemming]

a microtome looks alot like a straight razor, and is folded, of course, too.
But I trust you know the difference between a razor and a microtome,
as the latter has one side completely flat.

I guess the razor you have there has been worked on.
Some smartypant tried to sharpen the razor, eventually with something way too coarse
and realised half way "dang, this ain´t gonna work".
This way, I recieved a Thiers Issard limited bijou de france for a couple of bucks.
It has been poorly ground on one side because the "sharpener" realised he isn´t going to make it.

I still have two different bevel withs on this particular razor,
but this does in no way effect the performance of the shave.
(the big bevel is double the size of the small one)

So if you are lucky, and the razor has not been taken to a machine
that ruined its temper, you should be able to sharpen it quite nice.
Just proceed as you always do, but remember:
Because one bevel is much bigger, this side needs extra attention when sharpening.
You will have to stay on the hone on this side much longer

 

[elosamurai]

It looks rather as if only one side was honed over many years.

this is most likely the answer... And a common problem Ive found with some wade n butchers... Apparently the common way to hone in the Ole days was little circles on each side.. someone who favors one to the other side sometimes wears down that side first.. Thats why consistent even alternating strokes is recommended, so both sides erode at the same rate...also that way gives you the sharpest angle possible by being in the exact middle of both sides of the hollow... i hope this makes sense since I wish I can draw a diagram to prove my point, but I hope you know what I mean.....

And yes to set it straight you must bring that other side to equal of the lesser side... But then again give it a try the way it is,,, if it aint broke dont fix it....
try to use it, and if you get a decent comfortable shave with it, leave it alone...
It'll definitely last longer without evening out the other side.....Good luck and try to remove the least amount of metal,,,,,,,,, if possible.....