Thread: The Butcher Shop

Actually, yes I have shaved with it and indeed shave with it regularly. It was razor sharp when I found it and I like the look of the pitting on the blade so I do not really want it polished more. It is getting a bit dull tho so I was thinking about having it professionally honed, or possibly purchasing a hone and doing it myself

Best offer accepted, been watching this one for awhile, it's coming home now to live with all it's other brothers.

Wade and Butcher, 8/8, For Barbers Use.

Originally Posted by wjosephsimmons

I recently read that W&B began using the addition "England" on the tang in 1895 due to the passage of a U.S. import law that henceforth required foreign merchandise to include the country of origin on the product. Conversely, I've also read that Joseph Rodgers & Sons began doing it in 1891, but no reason was offered or identified. Presumably it was for the same reason. Robert Wade, IIRC, was originally a U.S. importer of Butcher open razors before they changed the name.

The commonly accepted date for country-of-origin is 1891, it's related to the McKinley Tariff and a whole boatload of other laws and tariffs instituted to protect American industry. There's some evidence that Rodgers marked their goods with 'England' before this, but the simple date is 1891.

Robert Wade is a much more complicated topic.

The Wade of Wade & Butcher was the son of a grain merchant, also named Robert Wade. He was born in 1773 in Sheffield. Around 1814, he began selling razors with his name on them (1814 was the date when the Cutler's Company of Hallamshire lost their monopoly control of the cutlery industry, and thus opened the floodgates of anyone who wanted their name on goods -- it no longer had to be registered with them). In 1818, Wade hooked up with William and Samuel Butcher and began producing goods with the Wade & Butcher name. The arrow & cross and the bow marks came much, much later.

Wade died in 1825. His wife Jane continued to produce goods marked 'Wade' until she too died in 1829, at which point the company 'Wade & Butcher' was dissolved and became wholly owned by William and Samuel Butcher. It was a very valuable name though, so the Butcher brothers continued to make products under that 'label'.

Meanwhile, Robert and Jane Wade's son, Robert, moved to America sometime in the 1840's where he sold goods for the Butcher brothers. He was very successful here.

William and Samuel had been orphaned when they were fairly young, and Robert Wade the elder (cutler, as opposed to corn-factor) may well have taken them under his wing, and thus they did the same for his son (and possibly his daughter). In any event, the young Robert Wade returned to Sheffield for the funereal of William Butcher in late 1870, and rode in a coach with George Wostenholm.

I picked up this W&B on a B/S/T just yesterday:

Attachment 182815Attachment 182816

That particular make seems to have been most popular right around the turn of the century.

That's a fascinating piece of history, Zak. So many Roberts! It occurred to me that the dates didn't seem to add up, because they were apparently using the W&B name prior to the import of razors to the States. How amusing that he and Wostenholm met!

Thank you kindly for this remarkable insight, and also for your observation on my own new little prize. I had considered it could not be older than mid- to late 1890's at best, and this certainly supports that estimation. It is so unusual (for me at least) to see a shoulderless W&B in 5/8" or thereabouts, and in such excellent condition, that within seconds I knew I'd regret passing up the opportunity. According to the seller, it has apparently been restored to some degree; reportedly there remains evidence of etching on the blade which is not visible in the photos. I will have to wait to see if it is legible to determine what it may have said.

Originally Posted by wjosephsimmons

That's a fascinating piece of history, Zak. So many Roberts! It occurred to me that the dates didn't seem to add up, because they were apparently using the W&B name prior to the import of razors to the States. How amusing that he and Wostenholm met!

Thank you kindly for this remarkable insight, and also for your observation on my own new little prize. I had considered it could not be older than mid- to late 1890's at best, and this certainly supports that estimation. It is so unusual (for me at least) to see a shoulderless W&B in 5/8" or thereabouts, and in such excellent condition, that within seconds I knew I'd regret passing up the opportunity. According to the seller, it has apparently been restored to some degree; reportedly there remains evidence of etching on the blade which is not visible in the photos. I will have to wait to see if it is legible to determine what it may have said.

I had one with a very similar grind but different marks.



If I were to guess, I'd guess that the blade on yours was etched 'SPECIAL' with the arrow and cross.

This ad was in a cutlery catalog from 1908:



It is, again, the same blade shape, but with different scales and a different tang-etch.

Originally Posted by Voidmonster

I had one with a very similar grind but different marks...
If I were to guess, I'd guess that the blade on yours was etched 'SPECIAL' with the arrow and cross.

They are almost identical. I've seen the "special" trademark in a scan from an old ad:

The TM on mine (on the tang) is on the very left, and yours is immediately to the right of it! If it is legible, I will take and post a better photo of the blade etching once I get it later this week.

Great grab from EU eBay...a Wade and Butcher Faux Frameback.

that spruced up rather nicely indeed Phrank

Edit: woh up nelly that's a different frame back LOL still very nice

Phrank, we racing to see who can get one of each W&B ever made or is it just me lol

Originally Posted by DennisBarberShop

Phrank, we racing to see who can get one of each W&B ever made or is it just me lol

Would be a nice journey to go on for sure, travel the world as the International Man of Straight Razors....Cairo, here we come!