The "American Razor" from James Barlow & Sons

A 7/8 Scalloped spine full custom restore in Honey Buffalo Horn with all Brass accouterments :)

The razor cleaned up pretty well expect the backside where there was a very deep long pit, but it is all cleaned out and shiny steel..

Honed up on a Chosera 1k, BBW, Select Grade Coticule...

Attachment 107489

Attachment 107488

Attachment 107487

This razor has a soild Brass wedge, but it still, balances right to the tang...

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Now I have to see if Craig confirms this when he gets it back, but the wife and I both read the stamp as

James Barlow & Sons 121 Allen Street SMEFFIELD it also has a small Echo stamped on there

Now I would have lost a bet if the wife had gone there because she spotted the M and I said "No Babe that is Sheffield" she said "No this one is from Smeffield" I laughed, but luckily I didn't say "Wanna Bet" because under magnification it sure looks like an M :)

That is beautiful Glen! Great work as usual!!!

Good work, Glenn. It Looks great! How many layers of tape? :D

Straight up jealous. That is a sexy razor.

Glen,
that one looks great, the blade and the scales go together nicely.

That blade ! those scales! fantastic work!

Great work Glen lovely looking razor, I think It's the same James Barlow & Sons that make some classic folding pocket knives?

Jamie.

Great job, especially on that pitting Glen.
Looks like Barlow's stamp had a typo ;)

Looks to be a beauty.

Beautiful piece of horn and great work as usual Glen! Well done sir :chapeau

Nice work G man. That's a lovely piece of horn.

Glen, I remain humbled and amazed by your craftsmanship! WELL DONE, SIR!:chapeau
I'd like to add that I think those scales look extremely elegant!

American Razor are fantastic Shaver
Here are my, one Greaves and one W&B

http://up.picr.de/11940126nr.jpg


http://up.picr.de/11940128jg.jpg

They are both beauties. Would love to experience either of them.

Nice job Glen.
That is some awesome colour on that horn.
Well done :tu
Mike

Thats one good lookin razor Glen, nicely done.
Grant

Hello, I just came across this thread because I just bought the same razor off eBay and it's in great shape! I can see how the "H" in SHEFFIELD could look like a "M", but even though mine is similar, and the H is small, I can see it is a "H" on mine. I tried to enlarge the image, on Glenn's beautiful restoration, but can't really see the letter in question well enough.
Here is a picture of the razor before I got it in the mail. (11/16"-after I re-honed the blade) I have since, polished up the Buffalo Horn, and polished the blade and it's a nice razor, in fact I like it so much, I've taken to making it my everyday razor, stroping it on leather, then a piece of mild rouged cardboard, then plain mild cardboard. That method makes the edge more mirror like than a store bought razor under the lens. I like using it because of it's nostalgic history, The company James Barlow & Sons was in business from 1826-1856. Men who fought in the Revolutionary War may have still been alive when that razor was made! Andrew Jackson & Honest Abe were still around! So were Col. Travis, Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett!
The Sheffield stands for what was bragged about at the time in fine steel, "Sheffield Silver Steel", I'm not sure what the "ECHO" means, but I'm not giving up on that one.
My razor has scratched in it about two thousandth's deep "Shippy" probably the officer's last name as I will show - on the other side about the same depth is scratched "S3" which means "Squadron Operations Officer USMC" (WW-2?) since the scratch marks are so shallow, I decided to NOT remove them and polished around them! Why? Patriotism, Nostalgia, History? I guess so, If the next owner ever wants to remove it, it's an easy matter, but I like the scratches.
As I refinish that old "Barlow", I'll post it up on another thread because This thread is about Glenn's razor! I just thought it appropriate To show the same razor in the picture.
I take it that, Glenn, you did the engraving yourself? It's beautiful! Very Patriotic! I myself am in full agreement! If it's an original engraving, I was not aware the James Barlow & Sons engraved their razors like that.
In answer to the guy that asked about it being the same company as Barlow Knives, the answer is no. It was just a little family business that lasted for 30 years. Here is a Link about Barlow knives:
History of Barlow Knives
I have also seen the Barlow razor made with Turtle shell scales and it was beautiful craftsmanship.
Anyway, that's it for now, your razor is one to be proud of, great work!
Z

Beautiful work sir!

Yes...Glen's vintage restore work is always stellar, and this 'Barlow' is another fine example. Barlow's are such fantastic shavers.

I always pay attention to his work and how he approaches each project. This quality is what I aspire to with my humble efforts.

WP34

Wow, what a beauty!

7/8 Scalloped spine full custom restore in Honey Buffalo Horn with all Brass accouterments :)



Attachment 107487

This razor has a solid Brass wedge, but it still, balances right to the tang...

Attachment 107486


Hi Glenn,
I know you wrote this thread in 2012, but I just found it because I recently bought a James Barlow with the original buffalo horn scales off eBay. (one of my almost daily razors now) It's about 11/16" after reshaping because I am one of those guys that has to have the edge follow the "line of the spline"! But the But my question about your beautiful craftsmanship is about the Brass wedge. Did you sand down the "built in" wedge that was part of the buffalo horn and then put the piece of brass in? Are those scales the almost 200 year old ones that Father & Sons made with the razor? Because they really are awesome looking. Mine are a little different as you can see in the picture of the eBay add on pg. 2. (I've since polished them up and they are translucent to a very high degree)
Did you put any kind of acrylic on the horn? I've had people tell me to oil the scales but I can't bring myself to do it. Instead I waxed them. After all almost 200 years and I don't think anyone has oiled them before?!?
So, I don't know, I'm not an expert.
Anyway, I know everyone has complimented that razor up one side & down the other, so one more won't make much difference. But I have to do it again anyway - That's really an awesome antique American razor, definitely in the top ten of the coolest, best razors in the world if I may be so bold!
Z

Z,

Those are custom made from Honey Buffalo Horn, the brass wedge is handmade from a solid brass bar that I take to a wedge shape on a belt sander then cut and polish to fit..
There is nothing on the Horn other then a bit of work polishing, it does take a bit of experience to get a high gloss polish on the horn but if you take your time it will look like a liquid finish..

Neetsfoot oil can be used on the old horn to re-condition it, I often soak them for a couple of days before working them again if I am doing a vintage restore. then I sand and re-polish them..

I think I got all your questions, let me know

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

Z,

Those are custom made from Honey Buffalo Horn, the brass wedge is handmade from a solid brass bar that I take to a wedge shape on a belt sander then cut and polish to fit..
There is nothing on the Horn other then a bit of work polishing, it does take a bit of experience to get a high gloss polish on the horn but if you take your time it will look like a liquid finish..

Neetsfoot oil can be used on the old horn to re-condition it, I often soak them for a couple of days before working them again if I am doing a vintage restore. then I sand and re-polish them..

I think I got all your questions, let me know

---

Yes Glenn,
That answers everything, I like the brass idea. I also use a lot of brass in building telescopes & telescope parts from scratch,(one will soon be in Astronomy Technology Today magazine) even custom making brass screws, and I like the idea of incorporating brass work into razors, even toying with the idea of brass scales, or thin brass, layered with another material. The antique razor manufacturers only had natural materials to work with centuries ago, but often their scales are much more beautiful than our standard store bought razors when they used things like mother of pearl, horn & ivory. I have some teak which I took off an old junked boat which could be made into scales since teak isn't damaged by water, (at least for a long time)
As much as I've held back from putting oil on my antique horn scales because I wax them instead, which almost gives them a wet look, (almost) I might try your neatsfoot oil idea. Perhaps even oiling the horn and viewing changes under a microscope. Here is an interesting fact about sanding those old horn scales, (600 grit) I could smell the old horn. - 2 centuries later!

Love those scales!!!