Can warped scales be fixed?

[strop]

Made a stop at an antique mall on my way home Sat afternoon. I'm having some second thoughts on a razor I left behind. I guess it's reverse buyer's remorse. No pics because it was in a locked case and the attendant was rather impatient. Vintage TI 6/8 at least Le Dandy with nice etch and no rust or pitting. I passed on the $170 price tag because the scales were badly bowed. As a result someone had "forced" it closed by forcing the tip between the wedge and the scale. No apparent damage to the blade.

Can the scales be returned to their original shape? Does it have to be unpinned to do so? At the time it seemed like a lot to pay for a razor that needs work, but now I'm not as sure.

[Mike H]

I would have passed as well.

Warped scales can sometimes be fixed depending on the material. I have had luck straightening plastic scales, but not much luck with horn. The horn required unpinning, steaming, weights, etc.
The plastic just needed a minute in hot water, dry them and put them under a weight with a space between the scales, I have done it both with and without the razor pinned.

[Greybeard]

The answer is ..... maybe.
Assuming that the scales are the normal plastic that came with Le Dandy, you usually can. Some are warped so bad, though, that even with work they'll still be a little off.

It's probably a 6/8 razor since I think that's as large as Le Dandy's were made.

The good news is that brand new plastic replacement TI scales can be purchased for less than $15.

The bad news is that the Le Dandy sells brand new for $170. or less. It's not at the top end of TI razors but more of an entry level. I see no reason to pay that for a vintage as a collectable.

[Kentos]

Good decision to pass. There aren't too many vintage razors where the blade alone is worth a 170 smackeroons IMO.

[strop]

Thanks for confirming my initial reaction.

The scales looked liked the original plastic/faux tortoise scales.