Thread: Anyone have any info on this razor?

It is marked WM Greaves & Sons, Sheaf Works, Sheffield. It says "The American", and has various partiotic etchings that you can see in the pics. I have never seen one, and I received yhis today as a gift. Any info is appreciated.

Over all rather good looking for its age. The scales have likely been replaced, and look wrong to my preferences. A little bit of cleaned out pitting towards the toe, scratches on the etching. On the good side light hone wear considering the age and apparent near wedge grind.

If I recall correctly the stamp changed to the Erie Late Greaves around 1850.

A very nice gift. Congratulations.

Jonathan

Originally Posted by JoeLowett

In short William greaves became a cutler is the late 1700's and worked for another Sheffield firm where he gained his mastery- upon doing so he started his own firm at the turn of the 19th century and started using the w.greaves (& sons) marking in around 1817. In 1822 (or so I think) greaves relocated to sheffworks which was the largest cutlery firm in Sheffield. Old man greaves died in the late 1840's early 1850's. the firm was sold to EYRE. Immediately following the sale of the company eyre continues to use the greaves name until 1858 when they defunct the name all together, and they just went by eyre...

There we go. Which gives a probible date of 1822 - 1850.

Jonathan

W.M. Greaves & Sons built the Sheaf Works (which still stands today) in 1823. Interestingly, Sheffield derives its name from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. W.M. Greaves & Sons existed as a company until 1850, when it was dissolved. B.J. Eyre then launched his own company, using part of Sheaf Works (and possibly some of the trade marks). The steel and tool side of Sheaf Works was taken over by Thomas Turton & Sons (ca. 1845 - 1919), who definitely owned and used the Greaves & Sons mark. Turton's was later bought by Frederick Mappin (one of the Mappin Brothers) - unsure whether the trade mark was sold along with it. See the link here for some additional details: Straight Razor Place - A brief history of William Greaves & Sons



I'm doing some digging now to see whether "American" was a mark used by any of the above. It could well have been W.M. Greaves & Sons itself, because it had a massive interest and market in the USA. By 1849, William Greaves & Sons was apparently listed as an "American merchant" and had a New York office in Pearl Street, Manhattan. So the dating of 1823 - 1850 could well be accurate! However, it could be later than that, based on the acquisition of the trade marks. Other fellow SRP members might be able to shed more light, e.g. based on the shape of the blade itself...

I guess I need to do a little history research myself. I was most curious about what appears to be an American tribute of sorts being made in England. I guess that is not so uncommon.

Originally Posted by rbaker2778

I guess I need to do a little history research myself. I was most curious about what appears to be an American tribute of sorts being made in England. I guess that is not so uncommon.

Not uncommon at all. The English cutlers had a healthy export business. According to Robert A. Doyle's "Collecting Straight Razors" acid etching designs on blades took off around 1830. 'Meat choppers', such as the FBU, were very popular from then up until 1850-60, and many of them will have etchings of American presidents, patriotic slogans and such. Nice Greaves you picked up, Hope it shaves well for you.

Very nice blade! Lots of good info coming your way!

The scales seem wrong to me. They are certainly old and appear to be horn, but they seem way too small and the blade sits high in them while closed. I am going to see about getting this razor rescaled in some period correct horn. I think an email to Glen is in order.

Originally Posted by rbaker2778

I guess I need to do a little history research myself. I was most curious about what appears to be an American tribute of sorts being made in England. I guess that is not so uncommon.

If you open the main SRP page, Zak did a good writeup on the history of Greaves! I also have a book hat tells about their history which is very interesting, both the writ up & my book which is Tweedales.