There are still great finds on the 'bay

[Bogie]

I mentioned before I'm a sucker for ivory scales. I scored these two from the auction for $38. They came from the UK in five days! They are untouched, but neither blade will take much to clean and sharpen.

 

[RHensley]

Very nice.

 

[Bogie]

The elephant ivory is in fine shape. They don't show hone wear, but the edges are chipped and ragged. I'm still working on them. Some Flitz and a dremel felt wheel polished them reasonably well. Right now they are both bread knives. I'm going to work them on the 1K to get a bevel then progress from there. Old blades just seem to need some love.

 

[Bogie]

Well, they went from bread knives to 'Shave of the Day' candidates. It took four hours to put shaving edges on them. Time to break out the Shapton glass stones. It took 100 full laps on the 1k, 150 on the 4K, 150 on the 8k, and 100 on the the coticule. I finished it off with 50 laps on a diamond pasted strop. One has some superficial scratching in the ivory that will likely see some 1k wet/dry paper to shine them up. Not bad for $19 razors.

 

[RHensley]

Yes there are some good buys on the bay for those willing to take a chance . Sometimes you get a once in a lifetime buy. You never know until you look. I've found a lot good razors for a reasonable price. Most I let go here.

 

[neiasden]

how do you check for real ivory? so many different ways I've heard but I don't know which one to believe necessarily

The elephant ivory is in fine shape. They don't show hone wear, but the edges are chipped and ragged. I'm still working on them. Some Flitz and a dremel felt wheel polished them reasonably well. Right now they are both bread knives. I'm going to work them on the 1K to get a bevel then progress from there. Old blades just seem to need some love.

 

[neiasden]

Yes there are some good buys on the bay for those willing to take a chance . Sometimes you get a once in a lifetime buy. You never know until you look. I've found a lot good razors for a reasonable price. Most I let go here.

I think that is 98% of the fun. being handicapped in a nursing home a fun hobby was the only objective. I don't even use a razor. I never used a disposable razor I just took a razor ran it over my face to keep it from itching and that's the way I shaved my entire life. I have used the straight razor nicked myself a few times my point is I just like looking at the auctions, seeking the information trying to find out which ones I should be looking for

that is what got me into them. now I have everything from jewelers loop and bulls coping saws Jewelers saws sanding blocks pins washers Woodstock everything you would need in a real shop in my nursing home room. when they come in here and noticed stuff they are All amazed at what's been going on because I have to do all of this work quietly which isn't easy with the Dremel that I have hidden under my dinner table I'll post pictures sometimes if anybody cares LOL it's like a secret workshop right in the open. and that's fun also but it all started with looking for straight razors on eBay and then the more you learn the more fun it gets for me

 

[Bogie]

Seeing real ivory on ebay can be a challenge. There is what is called 'French Ivory' shows some grain but almost always has a softened shoulder on the edges. Real Ivory doen't have these 'eased' edges. It is just a learned observation. The age and manufacture are also good cues. I don't know there are any hard and fast clues to ensure genuine ivory. That is elephant ivory as opposed to mammoth ivory which is coming under additional scruting and restriction.

 

[neiasden]

Seeing real ivory on ebay can be a challenge. There is what is called 'French Ivory' shows some grain but almost always has a softened shoulder on the edges. Real Ivory doen't have these 'eased' edges. It is just a learned observation. The age and manufacture are also good cues. I don't know there are any hard and fast clues to ensure genuine ivory. That is elephant ivory as opposed to mammoth ivory which is coming under additional scruting and restriction.

you already taught me more than I thought I would ever know about it LOL all I knew was ivory I figured elephant but I guess there are different types LOL never put that much thought into it until I started getting into straight razors. thank you for that information