I've come across one other person so far with an Evatt, but his was branded warranted and seemed slightly younger. Most corroded straight I ever bought. It took a hell of a lot of work to get to this point. Have not attempted getting it honed, though the bevel looks like it may very well be viable. Blasting the scales with bright light indicates they may actually be blond horn underneath the patina, or varnish or we the darkness is. One scale is cracked off at the pivot halfway, so undecided on that. Just curious if anyone here has an example in better shape?
You might want to repost this thread over at Straight Razor Place (SRP). There are people there who appreciate (and collect) pre-1800's razors. I'm not saying there are not any of those people here, but you might get more information there.
Thank you. That is where I found the other owner. I don't discount anywhere though. It's always worth trying, you know.
I actually was kindly provided with some limited data about the maker, I was just wondering if someone else happened to have one. Right now, the scales are what is keeping me from doing anything else to it beyond what I have. If they were slightly more broken I wouldn't feel so bad about it, but it has had them since the 1790s. I may try duplicating them out of some nice hardwood, but I have to work up the will to take the pins off.
Gssixgun is going to be the person to talk to. If anyone can do a proper restoration on that razor, he'll be the guy that can do it.
I haven't had a honing attempt yet. I need to find a scale solution first. Really bums me out to remove original scales form a razor this old.
I have one stub-tail. Pre-1800's. There are no markings on the blade at all, and I do not believe the scales are original. The lack of a tail lets me to belive that it may be French. It's been on all the forums and no one has any information on it. http://straightrazorplace.com/show-...-razor-really-old-just-old-3.html#post1044214
Typically, that is a french thing. It looks to be in wonderful condition. What is the steel like to hone? I think that would be the acid test, someone who has honed stubtails from a few places before with a mental log of how steel from certain places/era behave.
I'd like to, but I fear that the cracked scale is terminal. What is holding it on is the large washer's pressure on the remaining meat of the scale. I have no doubt tightening the pin would hold the blade during a shave should it not crack further, but I have serious doubt it could survive a stropping process.
I have honed well over 100 razors and this is the one that has given me the most trouble. Almost impossible on a coti or Norton. I have never shaved with it, and I really would like to some day.
If you can't keep it original that's quite alright in my book. If you plan on using it then I would make some scales in the same dimensions as the original. The blade is in great shape and it would make an excellent shadow box addition. Just remember it's not everyday you can own some thing that's useable after 200+ years. Just think about how the man who originally purchased that razor must have looked, lived and shaved. Think about how the world might have been back then. You have history that you can use every morning.
I agree. I look at this like a car. If it is to be a trailer queen, seen but not touched keep it original. If you want to "drive" it, keep the original feel, but make it usable.