Thread: Mint Joseph Allen and Sons non-xxl 5/8 barber notch

I know this is the workshop forum, but I really had next to no work to do on this one. Now and then you just get lucky. I lucked into this guy for a song, did not even have to dance. It is a nearly new Joseph Allen and Sons NON-XLL in 5/8 with a barber notch. The tang is stamped Sheffield England which puts it after 1890. Prior to that imported goods only had to have the city they were produced in so the older blades just show Sheffield, after that they included the England stamp.

The blade is etched Medium Size Hollow ground which is curious seeing how it is a wedge blade. The blade itself was black with old oil which did its job. After a bit of MAAS and elbow grease to clean it up, there is no pitting or staining of any kind. The factory grind marks are on the blade but I don’t think I am going to bother doing any kind of sanding on it to remove them. Why mess with it. There is the faintest of hone ware and it could very well be the factory bevel. The stock scales are like new and have a led wedge, original pins. It just needs a light tap to tighten them up a touch. I had made a set of redwood burl scales for this razor but now that I have it cleaned up; I am not going to change them.

I am going to keep this one all original if for no other reason than to pay tribute the craftsman that handmade the razor a long, long time ago. Sometimes original is best and lucky is better than good.

Great looking razor. Congrats in finding it in that shape.

That's so sharp it's swiped all the bristles from your brush!
Amazing that it has been preserved in such pristine condition.

Very nice. I'd do a small dance for that one! There's no dancing smiley. Picture one here<>

very nice i love coming across great finds like that

Beautiful! I have a Frederick Reynolds that has just Sheffield on it. Does this mean it is pre 1880s?

Sweet.... i agree about leaving it all original.

Sweet looking razor. I had the exact same razor/blade but a W&B. 'BeBerlin' owns it now. Intriguing how I encounter many times the exact same looking blade only with a different stamp on the tang. Beautiful!

Originally Posted by ben.mid

That's so sharp it's swiped all the bristles from your brush!
Amazing that it has been preserved in such pristine condition.

I needed something to hold it upright and that was all I had handy. That is part of the next batch going to SRD, gloss finished maple burl.

Originally Posted by EMC45

Beautiful! I have a Frederick Reynolds that has just Sheffield on it. Does this mean it is pre 1880s?

As I understand the process, yes. Or it could have originally started in another country that did not require the country of manufacture be stamped on the product.