4 Attachment(s)
Circa late 1700 early 1800 Bengall
This is a very, very old Bengall, 6/8 spike in a half hollow grind. The blade is surprisingly clean. There is only one small pit on one side of the blade. The rest of the steel is clean. It did get a sanding to clean it up and then hit the buffing wheels to polish it out. Take a close look at the blade, there is 0 hone ware. I dont think this blade has ever seen a hone.
If you look at the photo, one side of the tang is clearly stamped Bengall Cast Steel. The other side of the tang is not marked at all. That is where the dating comes into play. Prior the the mid 1800's tangs were stamped with just the city of manufacture. Late 1800's the import laws were amended and items being brought into country had to bare not the city but the country of manufacture. Prior to the early 1800's it was common to have nothing more than a makers mark, which is what this razor has. I would guess this blade is atleast 200 years old, and unlike any Bengall I have ever seen.
The blade had old broken up black buffalo horn scales when I got it a few years ago. I decided to put it in something unique. The scales are Afzelia XY lay grade 1 wood. An unusual wood to match an unusual blade. The crocodile scale figuring in these is exceptional. The scales are finished in high gloss epoxy resin and the wedge is made from marblewood. The pins are 1/16 brass rod with stainless over brass washers for a decorative effect. The blade has brass thrust bearings. I did have to add one washer to one side of the blade. The blade wanted to close slightly off center. Not uncommon for a blade this old, they tangs were not precision ground back then.
Shave, silk smooth. I taped up the spine and honed it up. This one will be going into the classifieds in another day.