Thread: Sheffield Steel in Dutch Silver

I have completed these razors, including honing/shaving recently and would like to share them.


One blade is a Thomas Glossop adorned with 'Big Ben' retaining original gold wash in the engraving which is extraordinarily ground for a wide, thin, old Sheffield.
In researching Glossop, I fell back upon the words of Neil Miller (as usual!) and learned that Glossop sold knives and cutlery from stalls in Sheffield's Market Hall around 1897 and later moved to Castle Market. His factory was located in Harner Lane. Not marked with 'England', I can only surmise it was produced for English consumption. This blade is right between 15/16 and 8/8 and surely wipes the whiskers clean as well (or Better!) as any large, thin, doubly ground blade from way into the modern era. A joy to shave with!
The other, frameback blade is from C.T. Bingham who took over the Tally Ho Works from F. Fenney sometime between 1850 and 1862. Since 'Late Fenney' adorns the tang, I suppose it could date from the 1870's at latest. (Again, Thanks, Neil!)
It is lightly etched with the Running Fox logo and interestingly, 'Made Expressly for the United States' (which is curious as I distinctly remember purchasing it many years ago from Australia)! Also a great shaver with some wear, nonetheless.
These scales had been languishing for some time, waiting for blades and as they are quite thin, pressed flat,
I was certain that only thinner blades would be right for them.
As I began the process, I began to research the hallmarks on them which were identical having 'Sterling' along with the hallmarks and also stamped 'Sterling' on the inside of each scale of both sets.

I thought; 'Lion is Sheffield, I think. Anchor is Birmingham. No maker's mark?....Something is amiss here'!
I contacted my friend Zak (Voidmonster) and he helped me research them. I pointed out that the lion was facing right, unlike the English one. Yet that anchor? This tipped Zak off to discover the fact that the lion facing right was Dutch!
After a bit of back and forth we learned that in Dutch silver the lion walking is called the 'Lion Passant' indicating .883 or finer silver. Had the lion been standing (Lion Rampant) it would be finer at .995 silver. I have seen this exact hallmark on another set of scales in yet a different pattern engraved 'Christmas 1904' which leads me to think the Dutch were not so particular as the English in hallmark standards or the razor existed for several years before being engraved. Either that, or a short-lived firm made scales for export there. Certainly Zak found that the anchor determined that the silver was assayed in Steenwijk and we both concluded that the 'B' indicated 1896 which is right in with the May 1st 1896 engraved into the ones I have installed the Glossop blade into.
Still, the lack of a Maker's Mark is puzzling. I wonder who made the scales?
At any rate, Zak and I both agreed that no Dutch blades were likely ever in them and that Sheffield blades would likely be most correct.
My thanks to Zak and Neil for their diligent research. It is good knowing something of all of this!
As to my part, not much on the blades. They were quite nice as-was. Lots of hand-work cleaning the scales and dealing with dings, scratches a bit, some fine sanding/polishing. Pinning and waiting for a bit of patina to come back into the silver. I like that!
Forgive my ramble, check them out!

Oh my goodness, Tom. What beauties! You continue to amaze!!

Tom, you've really outdone yourself on those. Simply amazing!

That's a GLORIOUS Bingham frameback, too! With the little tang tooth, even!

Magnificent!

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

Oh my goodness, Tom. What beauties! You continue to amaze!!

My thanks, Harold! I appreciate the kind words!

Originally Posted by Voidmonster

Tom, you've really outdone yourself on those. Simply amazing!

That's a GLORIOUS Bingham frameback, too! With the little tang tooth, even!

Would not be the same without your help, Zak! I have truly not seen another Bingham frameback before.

Originally Posted by ChopperDave

Magnificent!

Dave! Thanks, Man!

Those are wonderful! Just the right amount of sheen. Thank you for the saves!
~Richard

Spectacular razors, sharptonn. Thanks for sharing!

Quite possibly two of the most stately razors I have ever seen.
Stunning, stunning results Tom.
wow.

Damn, those razors are serious. Well done.

.....just getting up from the floor...the burning RAD scorched the curtains and the hardwood....wife not pleased.....wow!