Circa late 1700 early 1800 Bengall

[cannonfodder]

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.

[LarryAndro]

Nicely made photographs...

[hi_bud_gl]

Nice one. Bengal shaves great.

[clavichord]

Nice blade, but this one was made not earlier than the late 1830's (or 1840's). Here mine, here a similar one and here an older one. See also #160 of my gallery (1820?).

[Slartibartfast]

Nice Work.

btw, cannonfodder. Are you the reason i cannot find any straight razors in the dayton area?

[vior]

Very nice. I look forward to seeing it on the classifieds.

[Undream]

clavichord is right on about the age. 1830s at the earliest. Also, hollow grinds didnt become popular until later...your blade may have even been re-ground later on.

I have one in this thread here awaiting a bit more resto work.


BTW -- excellent job I LOVE the scales!

[onimaru55]

Nice save on a fine old blade.
Compliments on the always beautiful choice of timbers too

[Exile]

Very nice I love to see the old blades getting used and you have done a great job on this razor

[cannonfodder]

It appears I may have been a bit off on my estimate. I was going with what I knew about makers marks and origin stamps. looks like it may only be 180 years old.

At any rate, it is in super condition and shaves like a dream. I am going to toss it in the classifieds tonight. The packers arrive tomorrow to pack up the house. Moving to Philly. So this will be my last restoration for a few months.

It is really a superb shaving razor. So that brings up the question of why are you selling it? I have been bitten by the custom blade bug. Got my first Chandler razor a week ago and the entire ball game has now changed. So I am parting with a few razors that I simply dont use that often. I have a razor a day for over a month in the rotation so I am thinning them down in anticipation of Chandler #2, maybe even a Williams to go with it.