Thread: Favotie Sheffield razor?

Originally Posted by KarloT

I wasn't really chasing Sheffield when I got my sole British razor. I just needed a second blade and stumbled across a clean-looking John Williams 5/8 for $75. Had it sent to Obie for honing and it shaves quite well.

A John Williams round point was my first str8 razor, still have it. They top quality razors, extremely scarce, I have 4 total, took 5 years to find them. Yours is the only round point I've seen except for mine.

It's hard to beat a Sheffield razor for a clean smooth shave. If I had to pick a favorite brand that I've tried it would have to be Joseph Rodgers & Sons. In second place would be either Frederick Reynolds, Wade & Butcher or John Williams, all three excellent smooth shaving razors.

Doughboy,

I was told that they are somewhat rare and well regarded but I couldn't find any detailed information on the brand. I was hoping to find out what years they were open and possibly try to figure out when this razor was made.

Originally Posted by DoughBoy68

A John Williams round point was my first str8 razor, still have it. They top quality razors, extremely scarce, I have 4 total, took 5 years to find them. Yours is the only round point I've seen except for mine.

It's hard to beat a Sheffield razor for a clean smooth shave. If I had to pick a favorite brand that I've tried it would have to be Joseph Rodgers & Sons. In second place would be either Frederick Reynolds, Wade & Butcher or John Williams, all three excellent smooth shaving razors.

Gentlemen,

At one time, I had a long parade of majestic Sheffield razors: George Packwood, Wade & Butcher, Frederick Reynolds, Frederick Finney, George Wostenholm, and son on. Beautifully restored, all were also great shavers. I think my favorite of the group was Frederick Finney. Eventually, though, I had to let them go because of the arthritis in my hands, which made the razor feel like big clunkers in my hands.

The only Sheffield razors I now have are two in a set of smiling Wade & Butcher 6/8 hollow blades with barber's notch, squared spine and pre-ban ivory scales in perfect shape. In fact, the set is more pristine as any Sheffield razor I have every seen. Of course, they took a beautiful edge and are fabulous shavers. Because the ivory scales are so delicate, I rarely use the razors. Just as well, too, because they are saved for my two grandsons, hoping that they will grow up and love the razors as much as I do.

So, then, what is my favorite Sheffield razor? Well, this set of Wade & Butcher.

This is a more complicated question than it appears at first.

Basically, the name on the tang is nothing more than marketing. The old Sheffield work system meant all razors were made with steel from a tiny number of companies. The next step up the ladder, the actual making, was done bit Little Masters who regularly worked at two and three different companies simultaneously. When times were lean, they'd make goods with *no one's* name (all those WARRANTED and REFINED STEEL razors).

Wostenholm famously hit all his goods with a hammer, and John Barber personally inspected each item (if we're to believe the newspaper stories of the time), but the goods were made by workmen who made goods for other manufacturers too.

And yet, knowing all that, I still like Joseph Elliots the best.

Plus T. Ascher, Edward Allison, Joseph Hives, and of course, Greaves.

Originally Posted by KarloT

Doughboy,

I was told that they are somewhat rare and well regarded but I couldn't find any detailed information on the brand. I was hoping to find out what years they were open and possibly try to figure out when this razor was made.

Here is the only place I could find any info on them;
Information Links

I contacted the owner of The Invisible Edge website in the UK as I was told he had a lot of info on razors. I sent pics but he said he had no info on them but could tell by the grind they were good quality, were extremely scarce and were probably manufactured in the late 1800's to about the 1930's or 40's if I recall correctly. (I wish I would have saved the email from him)

I copied this from the website;

J. D. Williams
The company was founded in 1875 by James David Williams, who in 1882, was the first to make use of the UK's parcel post service, to send his company's products direct to his customers.

Originally Posted by Grazor

The Favotie is actually the rarest of the Sheffield razors, never seen one. [emoji1]

HAHAHAHA!!!!!

Originally Posted by Obie

Gentlemen,

At one time, I had a long parade of majestic Sheffield razors: George Packwood, Wade & Butcher, Frederick Reynolds, Frederick Finney, George Wostenholm, and son on. Beautifully restored, all were also great shavers. I think my favorite of the group was Frederick Finney. Eventually, though, I had to let them go because of the arthritis in my hands, which made the razor feel like big clunkers in my hands.

The only Sheffield razors I now have are two in a set of smiling Wade & Butcher 6/8 hollow blades with barber's notch, squared spine and pre-ban ivory scales in perfect shape. In fact, the set is more pristine as any Sheffield razor I have every seen. Of course, they took a beautiful edge and are fabulous shavers. Because the ivory scales are so delicate, I rarely use the razors. Just as well, too, because they are saved for my two grandsons, hoping that they will grow up and love the razors as much as I do.

So, then, what is my favorite Sheffield razor? Well, this set of Wade & Butcher.

WOW! Gorgeous razors! Your grandsons will love those! Lucky lads to get those. And a wonderful grandfather for passing those down. Wonderful heirlooms.