The scales look great and seem to fit the razor perfectly, @2bit_collie.
Wow, those are nicer scales than I am used to seeing on a Japanese razor!
It’s the main reason why I purchased it. I kept looking at it and then passing by it and coming back to it because of the scales. They are the original scales to the blade. I hope it shaves as good as it looks, it is my first Japanese razor.
Larry
Like an idiot I broke the bone scales on my CVH MK No. 22, so today baby is getting a new dress.
View attachment 1275070
First time working with bone. Smelly stuff when you are working it with power tools.
The picture is after cut out and rough shaping with a Dremel cutting wheel and sanding drums. Still have the hand sanding progression to do then drill, pin, and peen.
I'm thinking maybe a dark horn wedge for contrast?
My first time removing plastic scales and first real screwup! After filing the mushroom head and washer off this Dorko 43, I tried to gently pry the scales apart using a small screwdriver and BAM! My first thought was to reach out to someone about a rescaling but then I realized that perhaps this was a message from the gods of vintage straight razor restoration that I need to learn how to make scales, so that's the plan. I think I will start with 1/8 inch sheets of black and white acrylic using hand tools, and see where things go. I even managed to put a hairline fracture (toxic inclusion) in the top scale.
In the meantime, should I try to epoxy or superglue the cracked scales or are they just toast?
I should add that after cracking the scales, I did successfully remove the remaining pins by gently tapping them out with a long 1/16 inch punch. The pins were way tighter than I expected. Turns out I could have just cleaned up the blade without removing it from the scales. Too late now. I can also see the value in having a small drill press. And no more screw drivers anywhere near my razors.
View attachment 1281210
After getting a few Sheffield near wedges, I thought it would be fun to get a post WWII near wedge, and then I found this Dorko 43. The good news is that I did get the blade cleaned up. There was a lot of pitting on the top of the blade above the spine, and more than I wanted on the faces, so I sacrificed the etching for a clean look. I don't see this razor in the trophy case.
Before.
View attachment 1281211
After the wet/dry sandpaper, steel wool and Mothers polish.
View attachment 1281212
In the meantime, should I try to epoxy or superglue the cracked scales or are they just toast?
The decision has been made - I am going to learn how to make scales, starting with 1/8 inch acrylic. Can anyone point me to a good choice for double-sided tape?