I often buy razors that have both rusty blades and broken scales, to restore them later. The other day I sat down with three of them. One blade was so damaged that I saw no alternative but to discard it. But the others were in good enough condition that they could be restored. Rust are no problem. The most important thing is that the edge is in ok condition. I personally think it’s nicer to keep some marks and pits on the blade. I don’t like to grind away all the traces of use and age, and try to make it look “new”. I like that there is some patina on the knife.
I used the scales from the one in the middle on the blade to the right — and moved the scales on that one over to the razor on the left. The blades were sanded and polished, and the result was two nice knives. I also honed them sharp, and shaved with them.
The one to the left in the top picture, is a great shaver. It is a Thomas W. Ward & Co. possible a quarter hollow/near wedge. It has becomed one of my favorites 🙂
Straight razors ready to be restored. The midle one had a large chip on the tip of the toe. I decided it could not be saved, but I used the scales from it on the blade to the right — and moved the scales on that one over to the razor on the left.
Removed old scales.
Rust and “aging”. Broken scales. Much work to be done.
Sanding: After rust remover, i use 400 and 800-grit sand paper wich i dip in water.
Polishing using “Autosol”.
Pollished. Ready for new scales and honing.
Restored and honed straight razor. Thomas W. Ward & Co. This one turned out to be a great shaver.
Restored straight razors