Thread: Sheffield Razor, Need Help Identifying and Cleaning

Originally Posted by ClydeWigg3

Would WD40 help or hurt to remove a little of the rust?

It shouldn't hurt anything, but a gentle application of sandpaper might tell you who made the razor. The box was for a George Wostenholm "I*XL" razor, and that may well be what the razor is too, but you'll need to examine the tang.

Makers marks are almost always stamped (or, on later razors, etched) into the tang on the face of the razor. The 'face' is the right side of the blade if you look at it from the business end. It'll be near where it pivots.

The best way to clean the scales (handle) is with a toothbrush and some really basic dish soap. They're almost certainly ivory.

Just found this writing on the tang after I sprayed a little Liquid Wrench on it. Can't believe I've never seen this before. "Joseph Rodgers & Sons". There is some other writing and the name "Norfolk". I am still cleaning a little.

Originally Posted by ClydeWigg3

Just found this writing on the tang after I sprayed a little Liquid Wrench on it. Can't believe I've never seen this before. "Joseph Rodgers & Sons". There is some other writing and the name "Norfolk". I am still cleaning a little.

It will be something like this:

Joseph Rodgers & Sons
Cutlers To Their Majesties
No. 6 Norfolk Street
Sheffield

They're a fine brand.

That razor needs some professional help though, but I'm fairly confident it can be made to shave well and even look pretty good (but that quantity of rust will leave some marks, no doubt).

Void, that is what is say's. I'm about to post a picture. What is an approximate date on that?

Originally Posted by ClydeWigg3

Void, that is what is say's. I'm about to post a picture. What is an approximate date on that?

Unfortunately, REALLY approximate.

1830-1891 (unless it says ENGLAND, which was usually stamped in a semi-circle near the pivot on Rodgers).

Based on what I can make out of the blade though, probably much closer to the 1891 side of that range.

Also, can you get a closeup of that little chip in the scales near the pivot? I think Magpie's right and those are celluloid scales.

Just took this picture of the tang. Age estimates?

Is that the trademark in the second picture?



More closeups.

Originally Posted by ClydeWigg3

Is that the trademark in the second picture?



More closeups.

My guess is 1870-1890. The scales are definitely ivory, and they are repairable, but they've seen rough times.

Thank you. I love old stuff like this, expecially when I know it belonged to family. The ivory seems really thin and fragile. How did it ever hold up to daily use? Based on those dates this would most likely have been my G. Grandfather's, who died in 1911. If this was properly repaired would there be any reason I couldn't use it on occassion?

Last question, unless I think of something else. What about the engraving on the scales "47 Live Oak". Is that just something personal, or did they sell them with a business name like that? The town of Live Oak is nearby where this razor came from.