Thread: "Dip-at-toe" stubtails 18th century

Originally Posted by Tjh

oh yea i;m hoping he sent the original scales as i'd requested but i should have more pics in a week or so either way. Actually here's a closeup of one of the scales:

Attachment 316702

So you actually got it. Never did see it show up for sale. I was the one who suggested the Burks, not positive though.

Originally Posted by rideon66

So you actually got it. Never did see it show up for sale. I was the one who suggested the Burks, not positive though.

oh yea, i basically "nabbed it before it went up for sale", i still think it MAY be a birks, but the "Z" in there is a bit odd, what is with the "Z"?

Also, is dip-at-toe a Sheffield specific thing?

Originally Posted by Tjh

oh yea, i basically "nabbed it before it went up for sale", i still think it MAY be a birks, but the "Z" in there is a bit odd, what is with the "Z"?

Also, is dip-at-toe a Sheffield specific thing?

It may not be too. That is why I said maybe. If you look at the article and scroll down to the old Lummus article pic that razor looks like it may have the same mark and is listed as unknown maker.

Not sure if Sheffield was the only place the dip toe occurred.

Originally Posted by Tjh

Also, is dip-at-toe a Sheffield specific thing?

Can't be 100% sure it happened before or not, but such a dip at toe can be seen on some high end French razors of the early 19th century

Mail call:



It didn't show on the pictures that matt from griffith's sent me, but is this a shorty? Was it made like that or massively redone at some point? My richard ash in the pic for comparison. I actually didn't realize until I tried to do this, look at the bottom-most one:



So, any ideas about the origin of this one?

Originally Posted by Tjh

Mail call:



It didn't show on the pictures that matt from griffith's sent me, but is this a shorty? Was it made like that or massively redone at some point? My richard ash in the pic for comparison. I actually didn't realize until I tried to do this, look at the bottom-most one:



So, any ideas about the origin of this one?

I do have a stubtail shorty that isn't far off in age. From the rusty original pics looks bigger. Did he grind some of the toe off while cleaning it up? It looks like he had to remove a decent amount of steel and it changed the shape of the blade a bit.

Originally Posted by rideon66

I do have a stubtail shorty that isn't far off in age. From the rusty original pics looks bigger. Did he grind some of the toe off while cleaning it up? It looks like he had to remove a decent amount of steel and it changed the shape of the blade a bit.

hmmm. I can't really tell from the original pics. Just confirmed with Matt that the length was not altered (ofc a bunch of width was lost, but that's expected). Now that I think about it..here's a pic of the new razor next to the original scales...and now that I measure the original pic it DOES look like the scales are too big for the blade, and even here, maybe a bit? Maybe i'm just seeing things.

Originally Posted by Tjh

hmmm. I can't really tell from the original pics. Just confirmed with Matt that the length was not altered (ofc a bunch of width was lost, but that's expected). Now that I think about it..here's a pic of the new razor next to the original scales...and now that I measure the original pic it DOES look like the scales are too big for the blade, and even here, maybe a bit? Maybe i'm just seeing things.

Nope I think you are seeing things. Plus just looked at 4 of mine two are Sheppard crown wolf razors tails are different and the one like yours is shorter and both are original grind, but worn down over many years. Still in great usable condition. Another of mine with the tail like yours is also shorter and still in original scales and all. Those are all dip toe razors. I have a Clark & Hall original scales and all stub that is even smaller like a travel razor I guess. Basically though I have two dip toe with rounded tails and they are longer then the two I have with pointed tails. Never noticed this before. Interesting.

Originally Posted by rideon66

Nope I think you are seeing things. Plus just looked at 4 of mine two are Sheppard crown wolf razors tails are different and the one like yours is shorter and both are original grind, but worn down over many years. Still in great usable condition. Another of mine with the tail like yours is also shorter and still in original scales and all. Those are all dip toe razors. I have a Clark & Hall original scales and all stub that is even smaller like a travel razor I guess. Basically though I have two dip toe with rounded tails and they are longer then the two I have with pointed tails. Never noticed this before. Interesting.

huh..i wonder if that's a pattern. Pointed tail=more likely to be shorter.

Sidebar: getting used to the shorty, i thought it'd be easier but it's wierdly a bit harder.

George Wostenholm & Son Pipe No 1 RAZOR 5/8"
Wedge,lead wedge,mid 1800s.