All About Pocket Knives

Our esteemed forum member, dudleythetogi, sent me this beautiful old Frederick Reynolds "faux frameback" or "rattler" as they are sometimes called. It's a full 7/8 and heavy old thing. It had no scales. I've always thought this style of razor had very pleasing lines with the smiling blade and swooping spine.

I wanted it back in period clothes, so I waited, watched, looked, and finally found a set of old blond horn scales that were right for it. Scales were warped 7 ways from Sunday. I heated them over a Zippo lighter in several spots and got 'em straight again, polished up inside and out and pinned it up with new pins and double stacked the washers to make it look somewhat more original. All it needs now is a trip over the hones and it too will be in the shaving rotation.

Nice job Willie! If you have to straighten a horn handle again try putting it in hot water rather than using an open flame. You won't run the risk of burning the horn.You may have to experiment with how long to leave the horn in the water.Use a small vise that has nylon or plastic inserts to avoid marring the finish.Or you can cut up one of those Bondo spreaders to use in a regular vise.My shop vise has sheet brass inserts that I made up for that purpose.

Really nice all the way around.
Willie, Where do you get your washers? Are the pins steel rod? do you spin them?
Thanks.

FRJ wrote:Really nice all the way around.
Willie, Where do you get your washers? Are the pins steel rod? do you spin them?
Thanks.

Some of the guys buy their stuff from ebay vendors that sell variously shaped washers and pins.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=&_ ... acat=35990

If you're just going to do one or three razors, that's pretty much a good way to go.

http://www.microfasteners.com/ is another source.

You can buy 1/16th brass rod at Hobby Lobby or a welding supply place. BOught some at Hobby Lobby and it was tad oversize and really soft. Easy to bend when peening but once you figure out the strength of your hits, it makes a nice easily rounded head.

Thanks Willie.