Thread: The Stub-Tailed Shavers

Got this Bengall in an online auction for a good price, I haven't done a thing to it apart from scratching off a bit of rust with my fingernail. I think I'll just buff the scales, clean out the pivot and blade with a bit of Sonax polishing compound and hone her up.



It has jimps on the spine and belly of the tang, and the spine itself is uneven, maybe unevenly flatted. I think it's in its original horn scales, hardly a scratch on them. However there is a space in the wedge where it's been filed down or something for the blade to fit in and rest on the wedge. Is this common or just a sign of re-scaling?

It has no markings except for BENGALL, is it safe to say that it's a Cadman & Sons?

For dating, my very inexperienced guess would be 1800-1850. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I like your razor! The Bengall razors have always had a great reputation. Just like most of the guys in this club I find it simply awesome that we are looking at a ~200 year old tool that predates the Civil War and we are going to use it! Wow!

I have a couple old Sheffields, one of them with a stub tail it seems.
Leather scales on the last one.


By blix72 at 2011-08-26


By Blix72 at 2011-08-26


By Blix72 at 2011-08-26

I'd love some information of how old they can be.


By blix72 at 2011-08-26

Nice pair of razors. Well they don't have England along with Sheffield so they are pre 1881. They have a slight curve to the scales and that came in in the 1820s IIRC. Two things that stump me are the one being stamped, "Made From Italian Sand" and the other having 'leather scales.' I've never seen either of those things on a razor no matter when it was made.

Thank you Jimmy. Yeah I haven't seen any with the Italian sand stuff before either. And yes, the scales is leather on the Frank Bevitt

I also have a Sheffield razor with the leather scales. I was surprised but thats what they are. Look the same as the one above.

Originally Posted by randydance062449

I like your razor! The Bengall razors have always had a great reputation. Just like most of the guys in this club I find it simply awesome that we are looking at a ~200 year old tool that predates the Civil War and we are going to use it! Wow!

I know, I'm really looking forward to honing it up and shaving. It was one of those unexpected, most satisfactory (emotionally as well as financially). The problem is the spine is slighty slanted, uneven. Have to figure out how to hone that without getting a terribly uneven bevel, but I'll save that discussion for the honing forum.

@Blix: They look very nice, pretty clean, and, apparently Italian Sand-ey. Always wondered what that looked like...

Good luck on finding more awesome old stubbies, guys! And don't forget to share the love in here.

My French 'Hiver' (with replacement horn scales)

Originally Posted by MichaelS

My French 'Hiver' (with replacement horn scales)

Now that is a SEXY blade!

It certainly has curves