Thread: Vintage blade hunting...

Fellow obsessed blade hunters...

So, I took my wife away for a nice weekend in the country...that happened to coincide with a huge country swap meet.

I picked up the following four blades for on average $15 each. I was hoping someone could give me a steer on what I have purchased. I intend to attempt to fully restore them.

They are:
1. A beautiful Joseph Rodgers & Sons stainless wedge. The scales are perfect, and the wedge is stainless steel. I'm not sure, but I think the scales may be ivory as there is a very faint grain in them. The pictures don't do it justice, there is only a little tarnish on the blade and that's it, and believe it or not, although not shave ready it shaves the hairs off my arm easily.

2. Crown & Sword hollow ground, made in Germany. Original scales are just slightly warped. This one looks overhoned, the blade is almost wire edged and the spine has had metal taken off it. I intend to start my first restoration with this one.

3. Sheffield Bengall with original scales . I saw a couple of these and expect they were one pretty common. The scales are in good condition though, and this was by far the best one.

4. Geo. Wostenholm & Son, Sheffield, England. Suspect the scales have been replaced once before. Otherwise, a decent looking blade.

All the blades are in pretty good condition with some surface rust in parts, except the Joseph Rodgers, which is awesome.

Appreciate any comments on my find!!

Looks like you did pretty well to me (if a little pricey). Aside from the chips on the IXL (which will probably hone out), the Sheffields look like good buys. There's a lot of rust on the Solingen which can hide a multitude of problems but with a bit of luck that may well be a goody too. Good one.

these look like great finds to me. i'm jelous i dont get to sand and hone these myself and see what you end up with. antique store straights are my favorite.

They look as if they should turn out to be nice razors pretty good price too. Good job.

I especially like the Joe Rodgers. Doubt if it is stainless though. I believe it to be older than that. Stainless first came out in the early 1900s and I would think that to be a late 1800s piece. Nice haul you have there.

Originally Posted by bkvisler

these look like great finds to me. i'm jelous i dont get to sand and hone these myself and see what you end up with. antique store straights are my favorite.

Thanks. I think I made the right decision to start with the Crown & Sword. The blade was so thin and brittle, it cracked almost immediately. I think it was seriously overhoned. So that one's out.

I started on the Bengall with a Dremel 300 grit polishing pad, and it has cleaned up nicely. What should I do from here? Go up the grits and hand sand? If so, where do I need to stop to get a mirror finish? 2000? Higher?

I'm totally new to doing these restorations, so forgive my ignorance.

And thanks everyone for the advice. I'm pretty happy with the Rodgers, and to think it might from the late 1800's. I could have sworn it was stainless because it is in such good condition. Whatever steel they used back then is amazing, because it really is in very good condition.

Nice find, hope the restoration goes good for you...

I am heading off to Amish country this weekend with the hopes I find some razors in the antique flea markets.

Take some pics when you have finished a restoration and post them up.

Cool to see the before and after shots.

Originally Posted by Bagman

...
I'm totally new to doing these restorations, so forgive my ignorance....

There is a Forum devoted to restoration (The Workshop). That's probably a good place to go and read over the stickys and past postings, and then ask some questions.

You might look here for hints and tips. I was reading though this the other day, and they make it sound simple, not easy, but simple.

Thanks everyone for your advice. I thought I'd close this thread, but I have completed my first ever restoration job on one of my blades. Post and pics in the workshop forum.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...tml#post438187