Thread: Help dating my first Royal Keen Kutter

Hello there ... first post I recently began trying to become knowledgable about collectible things a person would see at estate sales (to either collect them or resell them, etc), and I got my first straight razor the other day. It looked old, interesting, and a good starting point.

I was told it had a genuine ebony handle. It's stamped (see pic) "The Celebrated Royal Keen Kutter Razor" on the blade, and the "tang" is stamped "Germany 419 W" on one side, "Simmons HDW Co. INC. ST LOUIS , MO" on the other.

Trying to date it hasn't been as easy as I thought. I think it's pre 1940, before Shapleigh ? And since it doesn't have the wedge logo, I think it's pre 1904 (based on Heuring's info). EC Simmons changed to Simmons Hardware in 1874 ... thus I would date it between 1874 and 1904.

If all of this info is correct, is my dating a decent dating ? Or can anyone help ? I'm going to try and resell this first one, and want to be able to nail it down better. I took it to my local barber, and he thinks it's real ebony as well.

Any help is greatly appreciated And I'm not sure how fast threads get responded to here ... but if I begin selling it on ebay or some such, and it's a conflict to post about it, I totally understand, no worries. I still need to learn about them however, so thanks to anyone who can help

The scales are not ebony. Vulconized rubber would be my guess. Your probably correct on the date. Can never get too accurate.

Originally Posted by nicknbleeding

The scales are not ebony. Vulconized rubber would be my guess. Your probably correct on the date. Can never get too accurate.

Hmm ... another forum said it probably wasn't ebony either, but black horn (over at AAPK, I hadn't previously realized they had a razor section lol). They also placed it at late 1880's 1890's.

So okay that's two peeps saying no to the ebony ... what are the tells that it's probably not ebony ? And thanks for your response by the way, I appreciate it !

IF they were wood you should see a grain pattern. Not many that i have seen were wood. VERY FEW. One i can think of. But horn will also have a TYPE of grain looking patern. If an area is turning brownish. Then its Rubber.

Almost forgot Bone. If your not familar with it. It can look almost like ivory

Originally Posted by nicknbleeding

IF they were wood you should see a grain pattern. Not many that i have seen were wood. VERY FEW. One i can think of. But horn will also have a TYPE of grain looking patern. If an area is turning brownish. Then its Rubber.

Hmm ...

Okay so there are no grains anywhere in it that I can see, but it's also not turning brownish anywhere either. I mean it doesn't feel like any kind of rubber I would recognize, but then again ...

And I am somewhat familiar with bone, as I've had a few knives with bone.

Hmm ...

*edit When I really look at it, it's a bit difficult to tell if there is grain in it or not ... I had assumed I was just looking at aged material, but I'm not sure. Perhaps I'll take it and have it looked at by someone and have them lay eyes on it ...

That third pic is a really good pic ... you are seeing what I would see holding it my hand under the light. Is that grain, or is that the "brown" you are talking about ?

Yes the 3rd pic i see a discoloration.

Originally Posted by nicknbleeding

Yes the 3rd pic i see a discoloration.

Okay gotcha ... so then perhaps it *is* vulcanized rubber, and thank you very much for the help :-)

I just picked up a Keen Kutter "ROYAL"at a Garage sale that says Simmons Hcwre Co. I think the stamp was worn and the backwards C should be a d. Mine also says ENGLAND on that side. The Scales are hard rubber with ROYAL impressed & the letters painted in silver on the presentation side. Also ROYAL is stamped on the tang of the presentation side.Anyone have one like this?