Thread: The Stub-Tailed Shavers

Originally Posted by Martin103

Harwood & Co was actually a trademark for Harwood, Johnson & Thomas, found in Directories as Merchant of fine cutlery (Lancet, razor etc) on Howard St and later Arundel Street. Their trademark Harwood & co silver mark registered in 1801.
Attachment 250085
In 1822 the business name was Harwood & Sons, and later in 1835 as Samuel Harwood & co.
My guess would be 1800-1810 give or take a few, nevertheless a beautiful razor, Enjoy!

Ok that is the same one I found in the 1797 listing. 1797 listing Harwood, Johnson, & Thomas razorsmiths, penknife and lancet makers 12 Howard-street.

Outside pics of the harwood. A little easier to see.

I just wanted to share this with everyone, too bad it has a hairline crack in the blade.

I finished restoring this one recently and wanted to be sure to share it in Stub-Tailed Shavers. So many amazing razors shown here!

Just found this Gratian stubby at a little country store. The lady selling it did not know anything about the value and was surprised when I paid her more than she was asking (gotta have some sense of fairness) it was still a bargain.

Any ideas on age?

I only see warranted on there?

Originally Posted by Martin103

I only see warranted on there?

Gratian is above that, barely visible.

The blade looks really nice, I'm not sure if that is the original finish peeking through or not. My guess would be 1800-1810 or so, based on the blade shape.

These older blades are a different animal to me. I have honed many a blade on carving tools and several razors but none this old. What do you speak of when you say "original finish"?

Originally Posted by TimothyJames

These older blades are a different animal to me. I have honed many a blade on carving tools and several razors but none this old. What do you speak of when you say "original finish"?

That it might not have been reground or touched up since it was made.

ScienceGuy... If I could get your thought on the Gratian, It shows no signs of ever having been honed at all, as you noted but it has gone through two sets of handles (now # 3 with the Indian buffalo scales I put on). How does a razor wear out or need new scales and never get used? Even more puzzling, the wood scales in the photo above, were made by someone who worked with wood. The wood is pecan and is one piece sawn with a very thin sharp saw. The maker cut the slot then worked the wood down with a spoke shave (you can still see the blade marks where it was shaved down and not carved with a knife). The pivot pin is a section of a square door nail like those used to make cabinet and other light doors, he then peened the ends with no washers. So someone did all this work, or paid someone to do it, and never used the razor for the second set of scales. this seems odd to me.