Possible Restoration Project...opinions wanted!

[kopio]

Hey Guys,

Well....I couldn't help myself. I saw this at an antique shop the other day, and I thought it looked like with a little TLC it might be a good shaver (and I want a spike).

Here are some pictures. So far the tang is too rusty to see what kind of razor it is although it looks like there is a heart symbol on it (can't tell yet). There is a good amount of rust on it, but the edge is clean from rust, it just has some tarnish. Over all the edge doesn't have any chips or dings on it. The scales are in good shape, but I'm pretty sure I'm just going to take them off and rescale it (perhaps in Mesquite...I do live in Texas y'know). I have a Dremel with a bunch of sanding, wire and buffing wheels.

I would be welcome to any input as far as what you think of the blade. I would also really like suggestions as to what progression I should use on the blade (wire wheel->sandpaper->buffing?). Like I said...this is my first restore. I do have access to a couple of good woodshops and woodworkers (two members of my congregation are woodworkers), so I don't think the scales will be too tough with help from my friends. I am thinking a Tung oil Finish on it (I really like Tung oil on wood), but I am open to any and all input.

Without further ado....here is the blade. FWIW, I think it's about 11/16, although I haven't measured it yet. It has medium hone wear, and it appears to be pretty even. I did place the blade flat on some glass, and it looks like it is flat (no twisting or warping).

 

[mdunn]

theres going to be some pretty big pitting under that rust, but its worth giving it a go

 

[Luc]

theres going to be some pretty big pitting under that rust, but its worth giving it a go

+1

I would start with a 600 and see where it takes you.

 

[syzygy]

That blade looks like a good restore project. It's actually pretty nice compared to some of the restore prospects we see on here. That heavy rust may have some pitting but it's the edge that is important and it looks pretty clear. It won't be a show piece but certainly user grade. Good luck with it!

 

[Alacrity59]

Dremel makes something called a "finishing abrasive buff". It is a kinda kitchen scrubby in wheel form. The fine one is a 320. I've had to use the medium on a razor that started out looking like that. From there I went to some other abrasives on a cotton wheel and finish off with chromium oxide for a mirror finish.

 

[Luc]

If it can give you an idea... (lot of pictures)

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?p=1674054

 

[kopio]

Thanks for all the input

Thanks for the link too Luc

This should give me plenty to go on.

 

[kopio]

Ok guys....I went to the auto body shop today and picked up some sandpaper and had at it.

I ground the pins down with my dremel and then I started sanding.

I got a pretty good shot at the name of the blade stamp...but I'm still not sure what it is...I'm hoping someone here knows what this is.

Anyhow...the bad rust spot apparently didn't go to far into the metal, it's left more of a tarnished stain than anything else.

Here is the first installment of pictures. The first shot is the stamp. The second shot is the side that had the least amount of rust. The third shot is of the really bad side. You can see where it was rusted at, but it's not too deep. The final shot is a shot of the grind...quite wedgy (wedgie?) if you ask me. As always comments are welcome.

 

[Luc]

That's a good start! Good Work!!

 

[John C]

That's a good start! Good Work!!

+1
keep playing with it, but I'd go fairly light by the name so you don't totally take it off. Nice blade, aught to be sweet when your finished.

 

[kopio]

+1
keep playing with it, but I'd go fairly light by the name so you don't totally take it off. Nice blade, aught to be sweet when your finished.

Thanks for the tips and encouragement guys.

I have surmised that it is a Worcester Straight Razor, from Worcester, Mass

Not a high dollar razor (they usually go on the boards for $20-40), but apparently a good shaver. I guess it's the same place Torrey straights come from (Worcester that is).

I'm thinking about modding it a little bit (like a thumbnotch), but I haven't decided yet. The scales are money! A little Maas and they should polish up nicely, but I think I might just use them as templates and try making some nice wood ones.

I will take it easy on the name....it's not stamped very deep.

Thanks again....I'll keep updating this thread as I go along.

 

[Cedrck]

Yours is a Worcester Razor Co 5/8th hollow ground razor (single grind) similar to this one.
The the hart on the tang is a reduced version of there hallmark as can be seen on the box.

These razors aren't much talked about, because they are not all that common, but are excellent shavers when properly honed... best for tough beards.

Hope this helps

 

[kopio]

Yours is a Worcester Razor Co 5/8th hollow ground razor (single grind) similar to this one.
The the hart on the tang is a reduced version of there hallmark as can be seen on the box.

These razors aren't much talked about, because they are not all that common, but are excellent shavers when properly honed... best for tough beards.

Hope this helps

Excellent! Actually it helps a ton. Wow....that's quite a nice looker you have there! Glad to hear it's good for tough beards....I'm like bobwire.

Anyhow...thanks for the great pictures...it's nice to know what it did look like at one time!