Thread: A Few Copmments And Pics About One Of My Favorite Old Joseph Rodgers & Sons Razors

I picked this razor up about ten years ago from a fellow forum member at the time. The blade has obviously been cut back and down but I don't mind. I bought it because I liked it and it is in my two week rotation.

Lately my insatiable curitostity has been piqued and I took a new closer look at this just to reacquaint myself with a bit of it's history. From the shape and length of the tail I'm guessing circa 1845-

There are no stars that I can see on the tail. I can't tell what that smudge in the lower left is even using my 60x jewels loupe. Way past my old eyes to distinguish.
On the left had side of the blade it says 'bers concave blade.' The first three letters of the word BARber were removed when the toe was cut down and back.
Scales and pins are of course of more recent vintage. I'm thinking maybe the scales are Mahogany??? Peeing is bit off and too many facets IMHO. I'm not bashing the individual who did the work: just what I think the peening looks like.

The tang has three lines of text and perhaps a very small fourth but again, I can't make out what the lower line says if it is a lower line of small text but the impressions are certainly man-made.

On the extreme left is a Maltese cross and below the cross a star
First line says: Joseph Rodgers & Sons
Second Line: Cutlers to their Majestie
Third Line: No 6 Norfolk Street
Below that your guess is as good as mine. Anyway here are a few pics as well.

Its a Sheffield Razor, in horn scales. Your dating is reasonable.

Thanks Mike!

I kind of like that pseudo french point they put on there, it's a good thing they did the procedure right and didn't harm the heat treat during the removal!

Here is a link to some info on Joseph Rodgers & Sons, one of the finest Sheffield straight razors out there;

http://www.strazors.com/uploads/images/rodgers.pdf

My guess is that is in fact a fourth line and it says Sheffield but didn't get thoroughly stamped

Way back there were grinders around. Sharpened and repaired everything edged. During which time they would also regrind razors. It is possible that during a very early repair to the finish that the word Sheffield got sacrificed. They couldn’t have done much blade work or the etch there would have disappeared. Cut down or cut back likely saved the blade after a stubbed toe. The bottom portion of a notched tip is subject to damage during those events. I’ve seen a lot of old Sheffield blades with the bottom of the toe messed up. She is likely a very good shaver, and a little shorter never hurts.

Hey Rezdog, man I dig what you're saying. It is a great shaver and I like the home grown French point.
Thanks Paul. I would love to pick up a few more W&B's off Ebay. I kinda get the feeling that the straight razor sales on Ebay are raked over like a field with a set of tine harrows.
Maybe still a few diamonds in the pile out there.

Originally Posted by DoughBoy68

Here is a link to some info on Joseph Rodgers & Sons, one of the finest Sheffield straight razors out there;

http://www.strazors.com/uploads/images/rodgers.pdf

DoughBoy68: Thanks man! That is an awesome document!