Thread: Rat Razors

I have wandered through the various clubs and viewed the spectacular specimens that have been well taken care of or restored to their glory. I have a couple that fit nowhere. They have been abused, misused, and neglected. This is the place for them. I think that the only rule is that you should have shaved with them for at least one week.

I will lead off the way with this wonderful example. THE PRINCE. I do admit I didn't think the string would last long so I exchanged it for some copper wire. I used wire that was from old cloth covered automobile wire of unkown vintage to keep in the spirit. The scales on one side are actually in 3 pieces under the wire. I honed it up with a little more than normal work to get past the rust on the edge and it shaves wonderfully.

Tim

I hope everyone's tetnus is up to date....

Originally Posted by HLS

I hope everyone's tetnus is up to date....

Only need a shot every 10 years.

Tim

This is odd... second time in five minutes that I'm liking a beat up old razor.

I know she's not pretty, but I find it appealing. That it shaves it's just icing on the cake and makes it all the sweeter.

I knew you were trouble the minute you walked in the door!...

Shave with it for a week? Hmmmm........ that sure would reduce the number of razors purchased for at least a week.

Actually, some of us do like a bit of "character" left on an old blade. There is no need for everything to be better than new.

But...that .......is really a Rat Razor!

I'm not particularly queezy, but that razor has me worried.

Originally Posted by 32t

I think that the only rule is that you should have shaved with them for at least one week.

Tim,
I gotta admit...you've got guts my friend . I would not have the courage to take that blade to my face. I do like her though and I think after some serious TLC and rescale, this razor will shine like it was supposed to.

It seems like I might have been a little extreme for most with The Prince for the first example.So I thought I would add this Fox Cutlery as a milder example of what I was thinking about.

At first glance sitting on the shelf in the antique store it looked "normal". The fox on the side of the scales caught my eye. Then upon further inspection I noticed that it had 2 pivot holes. Then when I turned it over the other scales are obviously homemade and about twice as thick as the origionals with only one pivot hole. If only it could talk. I wondered what kind of story it would tell. The more I thought about it I just had to have it. Plus it was cheap!

I got out the hones when I got it home and started the think about its history as I held it in my hands for a while. Someone probably dropped it and broke the scales on the one side. A cheap easy fix would be to move the pivot point and drill a new hole. I closes very close to the wedge. During use that is the only problem I have had with it is the wedge spun once and the toe caught it upon closing. I'm happy it is lead. After breaking it again the second time a new scale was needed. I haven't deternimed for sure what they are made of. Some sort of man made plastic. It is full of porosity and sort of has a hint of wood. There is a crack at either end by the pins. I tried a hot paper clip and it has no effect. Sand marks are very evident. One of the more interesting things to me is that they are at least twice as thick as the origionals and much stiffer. This thing closes right down the middle. While working on scales I have tried to make them exactly the same and I still have issues sometimes with them closing to one side. This pivot pin is where the answer might be. It opens tight for past the first 180' but then it gets very loose. I also wonder why he didn't use the origional pin hole on the new scales to make the clearance from the wedge better. I can only wonder.

Tim

Tim