Thread: The Stub-Tailed Shavers

Sheffield Joseph Cam.

I get to join the stub tail club! I dont know a thing about Roberts Warranted but here she is.

Originally Posted by MrZ

I get to join the stub tail club! I dont know a thing about Roberts Warranted but here she is.

It's a beauty.. Pitting on the edge could be an issue if you wanted to use it..

Gentlemen, has anyone tried one of these ? I'm contemplating here.

https://www.townsends.us/products/18...2f80c20b&_ss=r

Every mechanical detail is accurate, down to the flat-ground edge.

That's the thing that bothers me.
I had to check so I had a look at my 18th century razors, and no, they are definitely hollow ground, even if it's slightly, it's not a "true wedge".

If they indeed made it a true wedge, it seems a bit unpractical to me... Honing it would be very difficult for starters. Or you would have to severerly tape the back.

Still, it's very pretty

PS : I have some vintage early 19th century true wedge razors, but they are very low quality ones, like, shitty quality

with a similar price you can find original pieces and not a poor imitation. (and in that razor the diagonal lines of the grinding are unwatchable ....)

In the eighteenth century there were a lot more refined razors, like these razors typically dated between 1760 and 1780 for the shape of the blades (dip-at-toe) and characteristics of the handles (turtle and typical silver tips) in the range of luxury products.




And they always had a minimal concavity obtained on large diameter wheels. The true wedge is simply a blank waiting to be ground.

I am going to preface my comments by saying that I am no expert on razors especially of that age.

Yes, it is the "flat ground" part that bothers me too. Aside from the difficulty honing, I can't recall seeing a flat ground razor although they undoubtedly exist. I have also never seen a razor without a distinct transition between tang and blade either showing where the tang ends and the grind starts.

Bob

In one of the images it looks like it is all one thickness so you wouldn't get the proper bevel.?

Originally Posted by BobH

although they undoubtedly exist.

Oh, they do. There's a whole category of razors I am very fond of, for their historical value, that is early 1800 low end French razors.
The craftsmanship is on par with the Papillon razors, and to some extent the papillon razors are, I suppose, just a pratical application of this poor and yet creative craftsmanship.
Always bone scales, sometimes in one piece (without a wedge), without a wedge but with a strange pivot creating the angulation, etc, etc.
And they always have thin, flat ground blades, like a rattler without a back.

I have also never seen a razor without a distinct transition between tang and blade either showing where the tang ends and the grind starts.

Well, it's a bit of an artistic licence I can agree with, just have a look at these 18th century, early 19th century Dumas (the second one is one of mine)

They're replicas for stage and theater. Not for actual intentional use.