worthy of a restoration project- (finally finished)

[screaming_pig]

Hi guys,
Just thought I would run this one buy you to see if you think its worth trying to make a daily shaver out of it. I've been using a DE for years and its time to take the leap
The razor used to belong to my dearly departed grandpops so has a special connection, I only have this and his watch!!
I know nothing about straight razors but have a long background in custom knife making and leatherwork so it shouldn't be too difficult bringing this back to life.
Any light that can be shed on the razor eg age, or tips for the project will be greatly accepted
I'm planning on making this is to a working thread so you can see my progress, might be a slow one tho as I'm very busy with work at the mo.
Anyways less chat and more pics...

 

[thirdeye]

Are you kidding? Your Grandpops razor, oh hell yes it's worth doing.

 

[JonnyAngel]

First, that is amazing to have your grandpa's razor. I am still trying to find the ones from my great grandpa's barber shop in Boston. Second, that is a GREAT razor and in good condition. I would get it professionally done by one of our boys. Third, your grandfather had good taste!

DOOOOOOOO ITTTTTTTTTTTTTT!

 

[screaming_pig]

wow so thats a thumbs up then!
I was messing about with the idea of putting new scales on it (I have some buffalo horn and giraffe bone) but I think I'll just use the original handle,good enough for grandpops its good enough for me! Its in great shape, cant make my mind up whether its bone or ivory?? Any suggestions how to tell them apart?

 

[superbleu]

Judging by how thin they are and how clean the scales look they look like ivory to me. Bone usually has a grain like pattern to it that becomes more apparent with age. I have a JR that looks similar, and mine have Ivory scales.
That is a great looking razor, I would suggest sending it out to have one of the fine restorers do the work for you and keep the scales in tact.
Best of luck and congratulations.

 

[Antique Hoosier]

..... keep the scales.

Most certainly. Restored. Don't pimp Granddad's blade please.

 

[Antique Hoosier]

My Great Great Grandfather's 1850's era Wade&Butcher carried over from Liverpool to New Amsterdam, Indiana in 1858. Restored by Ken at RupRazor.

 

[screaming_pig]

out of interest is there anybody in the UK who does these restorations??
I do have a bit of experience on using bone and dealing with steels, heres one of my custom knives using giraffe bone for the handle...

 

[Ansuz]

I've got to agree with the other posters - the fact that you have a piece of your families history there warrants a restore. No other razor in the world will be more valuable to you or your children than that one.

 

[lightnin]

Beautiful knife.

 

[Utopian]

Sorry, but I disagree.

Even if you have done a lot of work with knives, a straight razor is a different beast. I have no doubt that you have the skills and probably the equipment needed to do this, but I think you are making a mistake using your grandfather's razor as your first restoration project. If this thing is special to you, I respectfully suggest that you set it aside, find any other similar razor that needs restoration (there are a few on ebay!), and do a trial run with that razor first. You may not make any mistakes, but is it worth the risk?

 

[superbleu]

Never had any work done by Neil Miller, but he posts quite a bit on SRP, and is on your side of the pond. He also makes strops, you will need one so might be able to do both restore your razor and make up a strop for you.

http://www.strop-shop.co.uk/

 

[screaming_pig]

Sorry, but I disagree.

Even if you have done a lot of work with knives, a straight razor is a different beast. I have no doubt that you have the skills and probably the equipment needed to do this, but I think you are making a mistake using your grandfather's razor as your first restoration project. If this thing is special to you, I respectfully suggest that you set it aside, find any other similar razor that needs restoration (there are a few on ebay!), and do a trial run with that razor first. You may not make any mistakes, but is it worth the risk?

Yes I do have to agree with you and the trial run does sound like a very sensible idea.
BUT sending it out worries me more than a little, if the razor ever got lost in the post its irreplaceable.
I do feel confident that I am more than capable of handling this restore, but your words have left me with a little more respect about approaching this new venture. Thankyou

 

[screaming_pig]

Never had any work done by Neil Miller, but he posts quite a bit on SRP, and is on your side of the pond. He also makes strops, you will need one so might be able to do both restore your razor and make up a strop for you.

http://www.strop-shop.co.uk/

Actually I was thinking of making my own strop, I have a few hides knocking about....even a veg tanned camel hide!!
I was going to post in the strop section but might as well ask here...is it veg tanned or tanned leather that is used for strops??
Also I wanted the linen/canvas on the reverse side after reading about the vitues of having this, where or what grade of linen/canvas is used and where to purchase from?
Many thanks for the help and comments so far

 

[superbleu]

Actually I was thinking of making my own strop, I have a few hides knocking about....even a veg tanned camel hide!!
I was going to post in the strop section but might as well ask here...is it veg tanned or tanned leather that is used for strops??
Also I wanted the linen/canvas on the reverse side after reading about the vitues of having this, where or what grade of linen/canvas is used and where to purchase from?
Many thanks for the help and comments so far

Good linen is hard to find, I looked long and hard and finally gave up trying to find stand alone linen. There is a nice fellow in Japan that is selling linen strops http://kanayamastrops.blogspot.com/ JimR is a great guy, and the strops, linen and cordovan are both top notch. You can sometimes get lucky and find old strops on ebay with good linen strops, but folks are getting wise to these and the prices are coming up. Not sure on the leather, maybe others can chime in, I would guess anything would get the job done.

 

[JPM]

Nice razor. Being your Granddad's, I'd definitely let someone with experience restore it.

 

[BillEllis]

Definitely restore it. Leave the scales because there is nothing wrong with them. Try to keep family stuff as close to original as possible.

Practice on something else first. Being able to make knives puts you 80% there. Razors require more hand work. Bone has pores. Ivory does not. Much of the imitation ivory celluloid can fool you, so be careful in making quick judgements.

Good luck with it. I look forward to seeing the progress.

 

[Luc]

I don't think I need to say anything but I will anyways.

Yes, restore it and please post some pictures in this thread when done!

 

[screaming_pig]

thanks for the help guys, currently trying to get a cheapie off the 'bay' to practice on, will give that a shot first.

 

[OtherMoe]

Are you kidding? Your Grandpops razor, oh hell yes it's worth doing.

+1,,, and i'll raise it one "oh hell yes"!