Thread: Auction: Weiss & Son pressed Tortoiseshell

On tang: Weiss & Son 62 strand
I was lucky enough to pick this up at an antique store a few years back. After a quick Polish, turns out it's pressed Tortoiseshell, and what I presume to be original.

I haven't done anything more with it since, as I've been reluctant to mess up anything - from the beautiful wedge to the tortoiseshell. I presume it's pretty fragile from the broken rear end of the scales, which happened before it came into my hands.

It's currently in bronze microfasteners rather than pinned - pinning would need to be done very carefully. There are also a couple of very small nicks in the blade, about 2cm down from either end, only just noticeable in photos. No cracks or other defects in the blade that I can see and the patina is relatively light / not actively rusted. Original wedge and internal washers as far as I'm aware. Not honed, not shave ready.

A little more info here, thanks to more knowledgeable members: F.R. Wellman in horn and Weiss & Son in tortoiseshell

Photos should do all the talking but I'm happy to answer any questions.

Can we start the bidding at US$100 please, for 7 days starting today, 20 August. Will just be pleased to see this go to a good home. International shipping starts at US$10 or US$40 courier (both insured). Will be well packaged to buyers specified request, but all risk and liability (as well as taxes, if applicable) lie with the buyer, particularly given the age and tortoiseshell scales. Please check with your local regs to make sure this will clear Customs okay.

Payment via PayPal (or direct deposit for NZ buyers only).

Cheers!
Suavio

Photos - more to come...

More photos -

Wow. What a great blade. I won't be bidding but I'll be watching this one. Good luck!!

I had an interest in this blade, so to prepare, I sent the following message to US FWS Law Enforcement.
"A straight razor manufactured in England ~1840 is available for sale in New Zealand. The razor's scales(handles) are pressed tortoiseshell. They are damaged. I wish to know if it is legal to buy the razor and have it shipped to me here in Idaho. Would I need a permit of some kind? Thanks."

The following is their reply. It details the many hoops one needs to jump to legally import functional or art items made using endangered wildlife.

"Thank you for your inquiry regarding the importation of a 19th Century tortoise shell razor from New Zealand that will require clearance by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Our mission is, working with others, to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.

"Tortoise-shell" products are typically manufactured from the shell of a sea turtle.

Please be advised that, with one exception, all species of sea turtles are protected by the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA), 16 United States Code Section 1538.

Regulations that implement the ESA make it unlawful to import, export, take, transport, sell, purchase, or receive in interstate or foreign commerce any species listed as endangered or threatened.
Antiques are exempted from the prohibitions of the ESA. The ESA defines an antique as any item that is at least 100 years old, is manufactured in whole or in part of any threatened or endangered species, has not been repaired or modified with any part of an endangered or threatened species on or after December 28, 1973, which was the date the ESA was signed into law, and has been imported at a designated U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) antique port of entry. It is important to note that all four of these conditions must be met in order for an item to qualify as an antique under the ESA.
You will need to obtain a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Pre-Convention certificate issued by the CITES Management Authority in New Zealand in order to import this 19th Century tortoise shell razor into the United States. CITES is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. The species covered by CITES are listed in three appendices according to the degree of protection they need. Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction. Trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances. Appendix II includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but for which trade must be controlled in order to avoid overutilization that may threaten them with extinction. Appendix III contains species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES Party countries for assistance in controlling the trade in that species.

You can find contact information for the New Zealand CITES Management Authority on the CITES website at: https://cites.org/eng/cms/index.php/.../cp/country/NZ

No U.S. CITES import permit will be required to import this 19th Century tortoise shell razor into the United States.

As you prepare to import this 19th Century tortoise shell razor into the United States, you must also complete Form 3-177, Declaration for Importation or Exportation of Fish or Wildlife. You can find this form on our website at the following address: http://www.fws.gov/le/pdf/3177_1.pdf This form is not difficult to complete, although you must provide the scientific name for the species used in the manufacture of this 19th Century tortoise shell razor that you wish to import, which should appear on the New Zealand CITES Pre-Convention certificate.

We do allow the filing of Form 3-177 on-line using our eDecs system. You can view information on our eDecs system on our website at: https://edecs.fws.gov/.

If you have additional questions regarding the use of our eDecs system, we suggest that you contact our wildlife inspectors at the port where you will be importing this 19th Century tortoise shell razor for assistance. You can find contact information for our wildlife inspectors on our website at the following address: http://www.fws.gov/le/ImpExp/inspectors.htm

Please have this form completed and have it, the original New Zealand CITES Pre-Convention certificate, and this 19th Century tortoise shell razor available for inspection as you prepare to import it into the United States.

You must import this 19th Century tortoise shell razor at a designated port. You can find a list of designated ports, and contact information for our wildlife inspectors at those ports, on our website at the following address: http://www.fws.gov/le/designated-ports.html We suggest that you contact in advance our wildlife inspectors at the port where you will be importing this 19th Century tortoise shell razor in order to coordinate its clearance into the United States.

Since you will be importing this 19th Century tortoise shell razor via air cargo, an inspection fee of $93 will apply. For information on inspection fees and how to calculate the inspection fee that you will be required to pay, please visit our website at: http://www.fws.gov/le/pdf/FeeCalculationChart.pdf

In addition, for this 19th Century tortoise shell razor to qualify as an antique under ESA, it must be imported at a port that is concurrently one of our designated ports and a designated CBP antique port of entry. You can find a list of designated CBP antique ports in paragraph (g)(2) at the following link: http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx...2_126&rgn=div8

Thank you for your cooperation in complying with our regulations that help protect fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats. Please feel free to respond to this message with any further inquiries that you may have regarding this matter."

These regulations are yet another cost to society of the poaching/trading of endangered species. Whether or not these costs are justified can and has been argued both ways; the facts are simply that they exist. These costs, in effort, time, and money, may be amortized on expensive artwork, but effectively prohibit the transfer of modest goods manufactured from endangered species.

Sorry, Suavio, but I cannot make a bid on your razor. Perhaps you can hone it, and, every now and then, post a SOTD picture for us all to enjoy.

Wow. Had no idea.

Did you check to see if that applied to Pre-Ban Ivory as well?

These products were produced well before there was any regulations or rules regarding animal "parts" being used. And are acceptable to buy/sell.

Customs declaration......Straight Razor, no more information needed.

Do you realize, most razors sold,with horn, bone or brushes with hair, antique or new are made of animal products and are "iffy" to go through customs? IF you declare t on the form.

"...you must provide the scientific name for the species used in the manufacture of this 19th Century tortoise shell razor"

"...an inspection fee of $93 will apply"

If you put "Old rusty razor" on the customs form and value at $10US, nobody will ever bother to inspect it. You wanna be nice and go the legal way, they rip you off AND make you jump through all sorts of hoops.

I've received a tortoise shell razor, several ivory scaled razors.

Listed as, "Antique straight razor", you don't need to advertise or say anything else.

If asked, you say, "I don't know...they were made out of a natural material, pressed horn I think".....if it get's to that point, ever...never has and seldom would, as they say, sometimes it pays not to overthink things....

"What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas."

Sell it,,,,