Description
The NTS-Solingen straight razor scales are appropriate for most 11/16″ and smaller straight razors. These scales are made of grendaille wood that comes from East Africa. NTS shapes, polishes, and assembles these scales by hand in their factory in Solingen, Germany. The blanks age for months, allowing resistance to temperature/pressure/humidity variances; they’re not as inert as the micarta, but nonetheless earn the German reference “noble wood” (as in the noble gases). NTS offers several different timbers, including bog oak and snakewood.
Blackwood’s appearance may seem much akin to Macassar Ebony, but in the hand things become distinct. Grenadille has a smoother finish to the polished piece, and a higher density of grain. These scales are ~136mm from end to end, ~12.25mm across at the pivot hole, ~17.9mm wide at the widest spot towards the non-pivot end, and weigh about 17 grams.
Made to Fit the 5/8 Modern Standard Razor Dimensions
Current production size 5/8 or 4/8 German razors will fit. To be sure of your particular razor as there are so many thousands of brands, measure the distance from your razor’s pivot pin hole to the furthest point away on the cutting edge. Your razor should have a measurement <113mm at this spot.
Wedge Pre-Installed & Built for Modern 5/8 Thickness
Furthermore, these NTS grenadille replacement scales for straight razors are built with a wedge at the non-pivot pin already installed. The wedge angle is based on the presumption of the pivot pin zone of the razor needing the space of a current German 5/8, which is ~3.5mm. A range of razors can fit depending upon their tangs and your skills. If your tang is >3.5mm at metal adjacent to the pivot pin hole it may be a tight fit or a creaky install. Conversely, if the tang’s <3.4mm you may have a challenge getting the scales extra tight or need thicker washers.
Breadth of Scale Built for 5/8, Not 6/8
The maximum width across these scales near the non-pivot pin area is ~18mm. A 6/8 razor will NOT work because the length of the razor at the heel from edge to spine would possibly “peek out” below these scales.
Includes All Required Hardware!
You’ll get one ‘pin and rosette’ and 2 washers with your replacement straight razor scales. The scales are already given their hand-fitted-and-sanded wedge/pinning for the non-pivot end, and also already pre-drilled at the pivot pin.
INSTALLATION TIPS
To install, first remove any incumbent scale/hardware. Line up razor and scale, and put the rosette and pin in with washers between each side of the tang and inside of scales. Nail in to some soft wood, or preferably use a jewelry anvil. Crimp off the rear excess of the pin, and begin peening the backside. Use a small ball peen hammer with the pin head flush to a firm surface such as a jewelry anvil.
It helps to open the razor to the loosest point and hold in this position while hitting the rear of the pin. Hammer from various approach angles. Be certain the head of the pin touches the backing surface, and not the wood. It is a moderate skill, much like stropping and wielding the blade for its purpose.
