Straight Razor Caping Knife

[Dr. Ed Ashby]

Here's a pic of a caping knife I made for Harold Mulkey. His father was a barber, and Harold still had several of his father's straight razors - including two that were still new in the box. I fashoned one of the new ones into the blade, and added a 'footing splice' handle to it. Harrold found an old sheath that fit it perfectly, and he's already used the caper on a couple of deer in the last two weeks. It's sharp, and the hard steel really holds its shaving edge well. Just the thing for a caper.

Though I'd pass the idea along, in case any other Gang members have an old straight razor laying around that they just don't know what to do with.

 

Ed

[macbow]

Good idea and great photo, Dr. Ed.
Ron

[Gene Roberts]

Great blade

[guzzi2000]

Dr. Ashby how did you fashion the blade? And would that be a left wing single bevel?

[vermonster13]

Nice job and I bet I can guess what it's as sharp as.

[drewsbow]

very cool , nice work :0)

[Bjorn]

Nice job! And the excellent pic too!

[Dr. Ed Ashby]

Steven, I shaped the blade totally on a 6" extra-course diamond steel, then fined it down with other steels, then arkansas stones, through the translucent extra fine. Then I used an antique "Superfine Razor Hone" that Harold had. It was made by the "Victory Hone Co.". I finished the edge off with stropping.

If, by chance, anyone know anything about the "Victory Hone Company", and especially this particular, rather unusual, hone, I'd sure like some information. I Googled the company, but came up empty handed. The back of the stone says the company was in Des Moines. I'll try to get a photo of the hone and post it here.

Ed

[Dr. Ed Ashby]

Here are pics of the Victory Razor Hone.

Photo 1 is the face of the hone. The round ceramic disk show beside it came with the hone, and is used to keep the hone's surface flat and true.

 


Photo 2 shows an angling edge-one view. The honeing material is very, very soft, almost like an extremely fine-grade jewler's rouge, but in a solid slab. It is attached to a backing laminate of a plexiglass-like material. Judging from the wear marks, it appears that the back side was used for final honing, after the front surface had been used.

 


Photo 3 shows the back surface. The manufacturer's details are visible through the plexi-glass like backing.

 


Whatever the hone is, it is among the better final-finishing hones I've seen/used. I'd like to know more about it.

Ed

[OzarkRamblr]

Dr. Ed, I found these while doing a search.

 http://www.stropper.com/stropper_website/stropper_view_details.php?id=909&shortname=Victory%20Hone%201&page=29&category=&select1=&select2=&select3=&select4=&select5=&select6=

These are all different but carry the Victory name also.  They were all made in different cities, don't know if they are affiliated or not but thought it might help further the search.

 http://www.stropper.com/stropper_website/stropper_view_details.php?id=1102&shortname=Victory%20Hone%202&page=29&category=&select1=&select2=&select3=&select4=&select5=&select6=

 http://www.stropper.com/stropper_website/stropper_view_details.php?id=814&shortname=Victory%20Hone%203&page=29&category=&select1=&select2=&select3=&select4=&select5=&select6=

 http://www.stropper.com/stropper_website/stropper_view_details.php?id=1232&shortname=Victory%20Hone%204&page=29&category=&select1=&select2=&select3=&select4=&select5=&select6=

[OzarkRamblr]

Cool recycling idea BTW.  Bet that baby'll cut!

[JEFF B]

real nice looking old razor.

[ber643]

Man, that is  Nice , Dr. Ed. I have three old razors I just recently got from the estate of my Father-In-Law, and dear friend (a retired Navy chief). I think he got them from his father's estate. I have just been keeping them with my knife collection but this may inspire me to do something with at least one of them. Thanks for the post/pic.

[Maxximusgrind]

nice work Dr. Ed
 I have seen a few razor patch knives,none so nice as your caper.those older razors are really impressive and I have a few for making knives from,but so far havent been able to get myself to do it     You have tempted me to give it another try-But I'll bet that when I take them out to plan my blade,my mind will start wandering to"simpler times"and I'll just look at it for a while,then put it back...again.
  Robert

[mrgreenhead]

they make great patchknives

[prarieboy]

Very Nice!