Thread: Sheffields

With the growing trend to use straight razors I wonder why the Sheffield brands haven't come back. I know that there are some custom blade makers out there and dovo and boker are still going why dosn't some one in England take up the torch sort of speak. I for one would probably try one. Just a thought.

Originally Posted by rhensley

With the growing trend to use straight razors I wonder why the Sheffield brands haven't come back. I know that there are some custom blade makers out there and dovo and boker are still going why dosn't some one in England take up the torch sort of speak. I for one would probably try one. Just a thought.

Good thought! I would too.

Don't have an answer for you but was thinking the exact same thing just yesterday

I would love to get a chance at a new w $ b wedge of some kind. who know the wife might even increase my a launce

Originally Posted by rhensley

I would love to get a chance at a new w $ b wedge of some kind. who know the wife might even increase my a launce

I've noticed that there aren't many wedges in production, I wonder why that is? Not to get off track, but does anyone know why this is? A new-production W & B wedge would be amazing.

I think it has something to do with the industrialisation of the razor (and cutlery) industry in Germany (specifically Solingen) in the early 20th century, which may have caused the Sheffield cutlery to bleed out slowly. It didn't eradicate it, but it must have made it more difficult for Sheffield cutlers to keep up. That's my guess. There probably aren't many able razor grinders left in Sheffield that have any access to or interest in picking up business. Even in Solingen there are only a few handful of skilled Meisters left, and they're getting old fast. One drop forge, 15 or so ageing Masters...it doesn't look too bright.

I really don't know but now that you mention it I haven't seen anything other than custom made blades in wedge. they might be offered in Europe I wonder.

just wondering and thinking of no.s Going by members here an the SRP how this sport has increased in the last few years and by what I see and read nobody can keep up with razor demands. you would think that some young men or women would see the growth and take up this trade. I don't know what the pay would be in Europe but it might be attractive to some folks. I know when I was young I tried the production line and for me I couldn't do it. I guess it's because I grew up on a farm doing out side work. but from what I've seen on videos making a razor physically is not that hard. getting it perfect would be. anyway just a thought.

A LOT of the old brands are still owned.

I believe Joseph Elliot, and the bazillion names they bought out in the early part of the 20th, is currently wholly owned by whoever bought out Alcoa.

Wostenholm might not be currently owned by somebody, but all the old companies got picked over like bones in the desert. Sorting out the rights to the names would be a sizable undertaking. You might manage one of the much lesser known old Sheffield names, like George Savage or James Crawshaw, but the Collectables (Wade & Butcher, Joseph Rodgers, Taylor's Eyewitness, Joseph Elliot, John Barber, etc) are still sizzling away in the huge belly of tactical manufacturing purchases.

I'd guess the capital outlay to set up a new mass production factory is prohibitive. Never mind finding and training all new employees in skill sets that haven't been used in about a half a century would be the answer. That is to satisfy a market that nobody knows if it will continue growing to support such a venture.

People on shaving forums tend to forget how truly miniscule the numbers of people using straights are compared to those using other methods of shaving.

Bob