My first straight razor arrived today.
Attachment 172919
Attachment 172920
Ideas for approx. date? 1880s? It only says "Sheffield" (no "England"). It's 1/4 hollow.
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My first straight razor arrived today.
Attachment 172919
Attachment 172920
Ideas for approx. date? 1880s? It only says "Sheffield" (no "England"). It's 1/4 hollow.
Not sure on dates but in the wiki for razors there is the date ranges to each stamp type etc
Nice looking smiling blade blade with nice bone scales
Is it shave ready or going for honing?
There was a treaty in 1891, IIRC, in which all of the signatory nations agreed to stamp the country of origin on their cutlery. So if it doesn't have 'Made In England' it is before 1891. Beyond that I don't know. Nice looking razor. Good luck with it.
First straight razor shave - Straight Razor Place Library
I recall reading somewhere around here that WB etched stamps (like yours has) were produced in the 1880's. The absence of the word ENGLAND signifies that it was most likely made prior to 1891/1892 as Jimmy stated above.
Nice little razor. Get busy and give it a work out. :)
It doesn't seem to actually be etched, but rather stamped, with wear.
1880s still sounds about right, I would guess - based on what I understand about evolution of tang shapes.
But @Substance's post suggests that there is a list of Wade & Butcher stamps correlated with date ranges somewhere.....
If I'm correct (a rarity) this lovely razor was made somewhere between 1870 (a hollow grind ?)
and 1891 (The Madrid agreement, McKinley Tariff act).
I'm making a bit of a leap here, but whatever, you have a handsome blade :)
Wade & Butcher - Straight Razor Place Library
Try this if different to above
That is an etched stamp.
Those that were stamped have a different look.
Stamped
http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/u...dballWB001.jpg
http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/u.../razors042.jpg
Etched;
http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/u...20II/STAMP.jpg
I used the Challenge to illustrate the difference in the look of a stamp versus an etch. If you'll notice on the etched stamp, the bottoms of the letters are flat looking. Stamps on the other hand usually have a "v" profile into the metal. Also the edges of the characters will be sharper with a stamp than an etch. This shows better under high magnification.
W&B etched stamp that is very light from wear.
http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/u.../razors097.jpg
blade etching of W&B above.
http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/u.../razors096.jpg
Hope that helps.
W
Wullie - ah, that does help. I have a knife that is etched, but the etching is much more 'surface-y'. I think the W&B etching is a bit deeper - which is why I misidentified it as a worn stamp. But your examples make it clear.
So that does seem to make an 1880s provenance seem likely then. Thanks!