Found two razors at the antique store this week

Both took a good edge and gave a smooth shave. I have polished them up since taking these pics and they look great. One is a Simons Keen Kutter but looks to be an early one as it does not use the logo that they went to in 1904. So it should date from 1880-1904. ( I may have that first date off as I did the research a few days ago) I think 1880 was the first year they used keen kutter on items besides axes.
The second one is a N & R Dodge. Very small barbers point make between 1847-1860. It has 61 scribed on one scale so that may be the year that someone picked it up here in California during the gold rush being as that is where I picked it up. Who knows but fun to think of what it has seen. I think the keen kutter used to have black scales that have turned brown. I don't know what the material is, no grain and small bubbles in the surface so man made of some sort. The Dodge looks to be wood of some sort. It is black and has a grain. Don't know if it is died black or a natural black wood but it looks to be more than skin deep. The keen kutter has what I thought at first was scratches in the blade but after looking at it.. I think it may have been a decrative finish at the factory.. not sure but it is done to the spine in a way that looks intentional.


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Nice! The Keen Kutter is clothed in Bakelite. It turns brown with age and UV. As polished, the cloth or wheel turns brown, but will polish to a nice, slick black with a brown tint. That is very old Bakelite with those characteristics. Turn of century. Lovely razor

The Dodge has horn scales, very old. Neat old small one, hard to see! Nice!