new/old Acquisitions

They don't look too bad, Colin - love the scales! Both horn, right? The top set will have the pattern painted on the inside probably, so don't sand that side or they will end up unpatterned. Before you do anything else, try a soak in oil - neatsfoot oil, preferably. After that dry off and sand right down to fine grit, and then buff using tripoli paste to get a glass-like finish. You'll need to unpin the blade to get a good job though.

Good luck!
Neil
 
Thanks neil, the joseph has a few chips and a crack at the hinge pin but won't
know how bad till I get them through in the post. As for unpinning, claw hammer
Or chain saw?lol File pin tips of and tap through with pin punch? Your advise
on the scales was much the same as exiles. Many thanks as long as there is know
Problems with blade and they are all square and no warps, then after ckean up
Ill drop them in for you to hone at your convenence, if that's ok?

Colin
 
Nice look forward to seeing them finished be very careful when removing the pins I have broke a couple of sets of scales getting the pins out. I file the pin down with a small file then I drill it out to just below the scale then tap it out using a very small screwdriver that I have ground flat at the end. All the best with these.
Exile
 
Sure Colin - no problem. How hard it is to get the pins out depends on the amount of flare. The pin is peened-over at the end, causing it to swell. If a washer is under the peened head it helps to reduce the flare a bit, but the pin can still flare in the hole in the scale, making it very hard to remove. The older type with larger than average pins and no washers can be a real swine! Don't tap on regardless, or you risk the scale splitting. I use a bradawl filed to just under 1/16th at the tip. If after you have filed the head off the pin it doesn't want to move with a few taps, you have to reduce the flare. If you have a pillar drill its not too hard, but without one (and even with one!) you risk the bit slipping and gouging the scale. A dremel-type tool with a small round diamond ball tip can be used to make a cup in the end of the pin. Sometimes that is enough - the flared sides collapse into the void, but if they don't you have a pilot for the drill bit.

When you come to pin the scales back on the tang - and if you haven't done this before - practise pinning a couple of lolly sticks together to get the feel for it - when you can do it without the lolly sticks splitting you will be ready to tackle the razor!
 
You were very lucky to find straight razors in horn handles in that condition. The scales look very nice.
I've had one Frederick Reynolds wedge in mottled horn, a very classy, elegant razor.

Enjoy them.
 
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