Thread: worthy of a 1st str8 razor?

I was emailed this by a site seller..$75 for it to be honed and shipped free...item details..(made about 1840) Wade & Butcher with "Silver Combined with Silver Steel". Silver steel was invented in the 1820s. This one has a buffalo horn handle. The shape of the tang is very rare and it has hand filed gimps on the bottom of the shank. It also comes with an old box.

what I find weird is its pretty cheap and if you look 2 the blade it says India steel...looks like a thicker blade than latter ones...any thoughts/suggestions always appreciated!


Eric

W&B makes a good razor. If you're going to get it honed and shipped, go for it. Provided you don't mind spending $75 on your first razor. That's up to you. It's hard to tell the shape the scales are in, seem fine from that pic. I imagine this would prove to be a great shaver.

as long as the person can hone it well and verify that it shaves well after that, why not.

hard to see the stamp, but it doesn't look like w&b to me, although to me that doesn't matter at all anyways.

If $75 for that is cheap to you, you should buy it for sure. Value of razors is relative, so do what feels right.

I highly recommend you peruse the classifieds. You will find very nice razors at attractive prices. Although finding a good bargain somewhere is a laudable goal, it probably isn't worth it for your first few razors. Get a known quantity then start branching out on your own, unless you already possess the keen eye to know what to look for and have the requisite honing and restoration skills. Also, Kenrup and SRD have great buys for first razor sets. Yeah, you'll also need a strop, brush and some shaving soap/cream.

Looks like a very tired wedge- one with a huge bevel and very little hollow remaining.

I would pass as a first razor, but it would look nice in a collection. I'm a fan of that blade shape.

Originally Posted by kevint

Looks like a very tired wedge- one with a huge bevel and very little hollow remaining.

Actually I think it's impossible to tell from the picture. I know you're looking at the line along the edge that may be an indication of a rather wide bevel, but along the spine the lines are very crisp and the engraving looks deep so that's the exact opposite.
I had a tally-ho with half of the razor being basically bevel (along the spine and the edge combined) and it shaved fantastically.

My main concern about this blade is what looks like pitting at about .75" from the tip - that may turn out to render the razor useless as a shaving tool, but that shouldn't concern a buyer who is getting a shave-ready razor. I personally wouldn't guarantee this razor to shave before I've actually gotten it there.

No Gugi. I am looking at the grinding pattern of the faint ellipse which was once the hollow grind of the blade. Where those vertical striations do not appear, i assume has been honed flat.

Many times I have purchased a razor from photo. sometimes what is; is not; when in hand. I think this one is a neat looking razor, but would be trying to sharpen properly.

We could shave with bits of glass or kitchen cutlery, What can be forced to shave, even if it works well in the end, is not what is required from a first razor as I see it.

the top line of stamp on the blade looks to be half worn away near the edge of the oval that kevin described in the post above this one