Thread: Old J.R. Torrey find

Originally Posted by Peterman

Thanks, fellas. As the weekend went on I realized it was not a Torrey. When I inspect the tang I originally thought it was welded back on. It looks like it was hammered on an anvil! What the hell do I do with it!
Pete

Pete. it is hard to say without a closer look but it might hone up and shave fine. A lot of black corrosion around the edge and I'm not sure how much blade is gone but you might luck out and have a decent shaver there. Than again maybe not. Cool old collectible though. I have an old 1700s piece with a chip too big to hone out but I wouldn't trade it for a dubl duck.

I have a shave ready Torrey I'd trade you , for it .

Thanks to everybody for the evaluation. It's old and it's not a Torrey, but who is the manufacturer? I gather from your replies that because of the age it is unclear who made it. The stamp looks like "I-SHAW", but I guess it could be a "J". Is it a Shaw & Sons? I've taken some better pictures, let me know if I should post them for another look.
Thanks,
Pete

I found John Shaw & Sons , Wolverhampton & Sheffield , in business in 1892 . Which doesn't nescessarly mean they started in 1892 . Perhaps I. Shaw could be his great grandfather or uncle . You should post this razor in the razor section of the forum . There are people there that may be able to give you more info .

Originally Posted by Peterman

Thanks to everybody for the evaluation. It's old and it's not a Torrey, but who is the manufacturer? I gather from your replies that because of the age it is unclear who made it. The stamp looks like "I-SHAW", but I guess it could be a "J". Is it a Shaw & Sons? I've taken some better pictures, let me know if I should post them for another look.
Thanks,
Pete

Just thinking Pete, if you were to post a photo of it in the Stub Tailed Razor Club here it would be appreciated. Also in the SRP Wiki Razor database here. That way the next fellow who finds a Shaw will have a point of reference and we all love razor porn.

Wow...awesome find. I wouldn't think of the Wild West, or even the Civil War...think guys in powdered wigs writing the constitution! OK...maybe the war of 1812.

Personally, I wouldn't shave with it. A razor like that goes far beyond a functional antique and enters the world of artifact.