I recently finished up this odd couple: an early 1800s Irish-made Millikin stub tail and a big Sheffield Wade & Butcher 7/8. Both needed some TLC and new scales. New horn scales for both, new hardware & wedges, and a little blade work. Both razors took fantastic edges but shaving with them was a unique experience. Both provided great shaves, but were entirely unique in feelin hand and on the face. Two nice razors with about a half-century between them.
The Millikin had some severe black rust on both blade and tang. The scales were not original.
The Wade & Butcher had failing hardware and somewhere in its life had received a 'new' scale half of wood.
New scales of horn for both, new brass hardware and blade clean-up. The old stub tail had deep pitting on the tang and blade. Because the steel is quite thin by more modern standards, I left some of the deep marks. They add 'character'...
The Millikin had some severe black rust on both blade and tang. The scales were not original.
The Wade & Butcher had failing hardware and somewhere in its life had received a 'new' scale half of wood.
New scales of horn for both, new brass hardware and blade clean-up. The old stub tail had deep pitting on the tang and blade. Because the steel is quite thin by more modern standards, I left some of the deep marks. They add 'character'...
