Thread: c. 1890 George Butler pair: saving Shakespeare’s head…

Saw this cased pair of George Butler ‘Keen’ razors in my local antique market last Thursday (before and after photos below). The seller wouldn’t budge off £40, which I thought was a bit steep. I walked, but had a change of heart and went back ten minutes later and got them.

One was pretty sound other than two rust spots on each side of the tang, the other was heavily tarnished with rusty finger prints all along both sides of the blade and very loose scales. Shakespeare’s head was completely obscured by rust. The box lid was detached.




The nice thing is they are a matching pair of No 0 razors with ivory scales which are in perfect un-cracked condition. I’m not expert enough to tell if they are a near wedge or ¼ hollow. The blades are very heavy with thick spines.

From the box lid, which mentions an award from Calcutta in 1884 and carries the crown and VR stamp for ‘Victoria Rex’, I can date them to between 1885 and 1901.

A week later, they’re both cleaned up, pins tightened as much as I dare; honed and shave ready. The box has been re-hinged with a couple of strips of gaffer tape and closes and latches great. Tested one this morning and it gives a very smooth shave.

Blades still have light pitting and some dark marks, but otherwise look good. And I managed to save Shakespeare’s head!



Details:
Tang markings: George Butler & Co, Trinity Works, Sheffield, England, ‘ART’ (Corporate Mark). No 0 on reverse side of tang
Blade markings: "Keen as is this razors edge invisible", Shakespeare, Love’s Labor Lost.
Scales: Ivory
Date: c. 1890

Think that was a nice buy. What was that U.S. about $55-$65?

Originally Posted by bouschie

Think that was a nice buy. What was that U.S. about $55-$65?

c.$50...sterling has collapsed since the Brexit vote!

very nice! and sounds like you got a good deal too. congrats

You did just fine I'd say. Beautiful set.

Lovely set, I'd have gone back too if I hadn't bought them first time

Very nice save. I would not have hesitated one minute picking those up. Even if the blades were toast the scales alone would have been worth it for me. Enjoy them.

Bob

Nice set! I've got one of those (albeit rescaled in Ziricote). I'm a huge Shakespeare fan, have taught many of his works in high school English classes. We even visited Stratford Upon Avon as well of course as The Globe Theater in London on our European trip last summer.

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

Nice set! I've got one of those (albeit rescaled in Ziricote). I'm a huge Shakespeare fan, have taught many of his works in high school English classes. We even visited Stratford Upon Avon as well of course as The Globe Theater in London on our European trip last summer.

Interesting. Actually, one of the reasons I went back and got them was that my late father was an English teacher and huge Shakespeare fan. He would have loved them.

Very nice pair you got there. Matching pairs have intrigued me for a while now.

I've got a matching pair of C.H.Laurent 5/8 French razors; one has broken but still serviceable scales. They're scaled in common black celluloid. I'm still undecided on whether to send them both out for custom rescaling or keeping the good one as is (it's fine) and just rescaling the broken one. I've been debating this for over a year now.

Don't mean to hijack this thread, (I'm already feeling guilty), but what do others think of my choices?