Got the itch to put this blade in a pair of shoes this weekend. An 8/8+ Wade &Butcher For Barber’s Use that could use some horn with a little modern twist. I’ve had this blank for a few years, pretty thick at over a 1/4” (so it will need some thinning) and I never had the right blade for it. The pattern is pretty cool and I needed a wide blade to make it work... I found that. Modeled the pattern after other big W&B’s and then let it flare out at the wedge a little. Here is what I came up with after a coping saw and 60 grit sanding drum did it’s work: I then took a lot of time thinning using the 60 grit drum and 180 grit paper on a flat surface. Then I drilled my holes, taped the halves together and made sure they were identical. Shifted to the 400 grit drum to minimize the hand sanding work after this. Once the shape was done, I used the 400 drum to bevel the edges... just enough so I could shift to hand sanding. 400-800-1500-2000 was the progression with some flattening of the face done at the 1500 & 2000 grit levels with sheets on the DMT325 to keep it flat. The dye was a little weird, but the effect turned out pretty cool. The wedge was made from camel bone, and I am a fan of the contrast to the dark horn. Used repro brass washers to mimic the old Sheffield’s look. The backside is less dramatic but still has some nice coloring. And one more of my favorite angle for these scales. Almost looks like a desert night. Can’t wait to hone her up. Enjoy your projects. Tom
