Quote Originally Posted by hoglahoo View Post
I would like to bring this up again for accuracy's sake. Manah's website does not say your razor is from George Johnson. All it says is that the trademark present on your razor was used by George Johnson. He also notes that the trademark appears to have been owned by Lambert in 1888 and that the clay pipe with dart device was granted in 1698. However, according to this Law Times report from 1889, the trademark was purchased from Johnson by Lambert (who had previously traded at Sheffield as a razor mfr in the name of Johnson) in 1887 and Johnson had acquired it from Thomas Linley, a razor manufacturer, in 1842. The mark had originally been granted to Bradshaw in 1698, and according to the document I linked, it was eventually surrendered in 1839 and reassigned to Linley in 1839. We have this particular record because Wostenholm used the opportunity of the trademark's changing hands in 1888 to contest its legality based on the similarity to its own pipe trademark. It was ruled the pipe and dart was a distinct trademark.

Anyway, I am fairly certain your razor predates George Johnson's ownership of the arrow and pipe trademark, judging by the style of the razor and comparing with other razors of similar style with known date of mfg range. Going a little farther, I think your razor predates Linley, whoever he was or worked for, to a previous owner of the trademark. Who that was, I don't know, but would like to Therefore because of these things, I don't think "1815" itself (assuming you pulled that date from manah's website as the earliest date he has listed for Johnson ) has any significance at all. Your razor could very well be older or younger.

It sure would be nice to be able to get our hands on the 18th and 19th century records of the cutlers company of hallamshire who granted these marks and kept up with ownership of them as they changed hands
wow thanks, that was a lot of info! i tried honing it and the bevel i got was nowhere near even so i didnt go anywhere past the 1k stone.. i might just round up some cash and let glen give it a go!