French frameback, sharkfin

I bought this razor off ebay a couple of weeks ago.

it's branded on the tang as

BATIFO-ULIER
17 Rus Des HALLES
BOIS-COLOMBES

and "déposé " on the back

on the spine it has "T.e Continental"

and on the blade it is etched with "CONTINENTAL NO 2"

The scales are black horn (i think)

but as you can see the most interesting thing about the razor is the weird "shark fin" attachment. You lift it out with a finger nail, and I assume its helps to grip the razor.

I would love to know more about this razor and if anyone else has one or has come across any?

http://straightrazorpalace.com/attac...d=192535&stc=1http://straightrazorpalace.com/attac...d=192536&stc=1

Pics aren't coming through..

Attachment 192639Attachment 192640

sorry about that. hope these work

Looks Fwench? Or Swede for France? Frowning sucker. That shark fin is a mechanism to release the blade and stuff in another.
Definitely French!
Get to work, Dooey! :whipped:

Is that "fin" some way to release the blade? Some framebacks had a removable blade, sort of like a precursor to the modern day shavette.

If it is, I'd imagine that the "fin" has a hook on the end, which attaches to another hook on the blade. Try tugging it and see if it comes loose.

Very interesting razor to say the least, never saw a frameback with a blade release like this one. Especially since this razor was made by Thiers Issard for Batifoulier in Bois Colombe France.

Both trademark on the blade "Le continental" and "Continental no 2" respectively in 1911 and 1932, were registered by Thiers Issard.
Attachment 192711
Here the blade with both trademarks, and as you can see below, the trademarks are identical.
Attachment 192712
Attachment 192713

I believe as that the gentleman above has said, that is a blade release. I have a similar one but different manufacture.
Soak it in penetrating oil for a couple days and then pull the fin all the way up. or. if it is still stuck pull and release a few times to get the oil fully into the groove. The blade groove is full of crud so it may take some force.
Then. you can polish both sides of the blade and hone it properly.
They have very good steel in them.
~Richard

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Martin103

Very interesting razor to say the least, never saw a frameback with a blade release like this one. Especially since this razor was made by Thiers Issard for Batifoulier in Bois Colombe France.

Both trademark on the blade "Le continental" and "Continental no 2" respectively in 1911 and 1932, were registered by Thiers Issard.
Attachment 192711
Here the blade with both trademarks, and as you can see below, the trademarks are identical.

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the almost look like exactly the same razor...

thanks for the info, its nice to know i have unwittingly collected a Thiers Issard. i have it soaking in some oil now. i will post pics if i manage to dismantle it, clean and put back together

Well, cobber. You got your work cut out.
Letssee it as you finish! I often wonder about taking the blade out and cleaning all the rust and then the blade will be loose.
Might be best to leave the thing be and work with it on a one-piece regimen?

Wouldn't it be cool if someone here had a blade? Wish I did!

the more i look at the two pictures the more i think that it IS the same razor. same wear, same marks same frown.....

Attachment 192734Attachment 192735
blade out

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dooey

Attachment 192734Attachment 192735
blade out

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Dooey's the MAN! :tu

That is AWESOME! :tu

Does anyone know if there's a special name for these framebacks, or if any custom makers offer them?

pretty nice and cool razor !! the bad part is I have a frameback coming in the mail and now im gonna be tempted to take the blade out ..lol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gooser

pretty nice and cool razor !! the bad part is I have a frameback coming in the mail and now im gonna be tempted to take the blade out ..lol

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haha have a shot if you want, you can always buy another one.

i cleaned it up a bit, the blade goes in and out pretty easily but stays well locked in.

anyone have some tips to straighten out the frown and hone it?

That's a very interesting piece dooey. I've never seen one like that. That is a piece of history if I've ever seen one. Great score!!!! Looks like they were trying to compete with Lecoultre if they are from the same era. I wish I had more information on French razor's.

Funny, it looks just like my razor!
Attachment 193028

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dooey

the more i look at the two pictures the more i think that it IS the same razor. same wear, same marks same frown.....

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Even the rust spots.............they are all in the exact same place! What's up here??? Do each of you still have your razor's or did one of you sell the one you had & the other ended up with it? This is really blowing me away...................:confused:................. ...:shrug:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gooser

pretty nice and cool razor !! the bad part is I have a frameback coming in the mail and now im gonna be tempted to take the blade out ..lol

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Only if it has a release lever or a screw in the front of the spine.!!!!! Otherwise they often were, squeezed, silver brazed, or lead soldered in.
~Richard

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dooey

haha have a shot if you want, you can always buy another one.
i cleaned it up a bit, the blade goes in and out pretty easily but stays well locked in.
anyone have some tips to straighten out the frown and hone it?

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Double sticky tape it to two popsicle sticks or tongue depressors, or some other way to hold it while honing the bottom of the sticks should go along the line of the original spine and be about the same thickness. OR, I have used a strong magnet as a handle in the middle of the blade to hone enough to get the frown out. Watch your finger getting it on and off.........! Then put it back into the spine and tape the spine to really set the bevel properly.
Take your time and have fun doing it!
Nice razor!
~Richard

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Geezer

Only if it has a release lever or a screw in the front of the spine.!!!!! Otherwise they often were, squeezed, silver brazed, or lead soldered in.
~Richard

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Very good response Richard. That would be correct like the Jaques Lecoultre straight Razor's I have. There is only one that I know of, a Swedish Straight Razor made by Soderen that is one exception. The blade slides out through the front. It has no screws or levers to hold it in place. I have two of these.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Amenrab

Does anyone know if there's a special name for these framebacks, or if any custom makers offer them?

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It is a razor with level.
Here, different models of Frame backs Razors with fixed or removable blades from
1927 jean Coudert's catalogue in Paris
http://img4.hostingpics.net/pics/961...age1Copier.jpghttp://img4.hostingpics.net/pics/227...age2Copier.jpg
http://img4.hostingpics.net/pics/164...acksCopier.jpg
http://img4.hostingpics.net/pics/436...cks1Copier.jpg
http://img4.hostingpics.net/pics/824...cks2Copier.jpg

I have the #165 and another similar to the one the OP showed. And quite a few of the Le Coultre, Arbenz, TI, and HGDG variations. As you show, one style blade does not fit all of the apparently the same razors. The blade 101 will fit most but only one requires it.
Thank you for the catalog pages!
~Richard

I have a Jaques Lecoultre 2 blade set in which one blade is slightly different from the other one & it will not lock down with the screw but I have been waiting on another Lecoultre Box with 2 different extra blades plus the blade leaves which it is also missing. It also has the extra screw driver. It is coming from the NE & with the blizzards they have been getting, it has been delayed. I have one more complete 2 blade set, a complete 4 day set & of course the complete 7 day set that many of you saw awhile back when I showed it.
Birnando has also sent the Filly he promised me & after 2 failed attempts in which he kept getting it back, he sent it a third time & they finally got their brains working & it has made it to the states but has been stuck in Garden City, NY since Feb.1st! I sent him the right address the first time but the people in his country sent it back to him twice & I sent him my address again which was the same as the first time except I added the extra 4 zip code digits they use but is usually not necessary but I don't think he used them. It finally made it through customs in NY but has been stuck there ever since. I'll get it eventually...............hopefully anyday now. They have been having bad weather in the NE but down here in Texas, it has been nice & we have had warm weather. The last few days, the high has been in the lower 80's. I think we are going to have an early spring since we had a milder winter this season & it will probably be a HOT summer!
Here's my Jaques Lecoultre 7 day set for those who haven't seen it:
Attachment 193156Attachment 193157

And the 4 day set which a friend pawned off on me because he needed $50 but I told him if he ever wants it back, he can buy it back from me at any time. I could have sworn he told me it was a 5 day set but the box says 4 Lames on it which means 4 blades:
Attachment 193158Attachment 193159

And last of all my complete 2 day set:
Attachment 193160

Here are all three sets:
Attachment 193161

The seven day set is the only one that has a small envelope or pouch for the blade leaves to go into. None of my other sets have that. There was even a new looking Jaques Lecoultre 2 blade set that finally sold on eBay for $150 plus $30 shipping because the seller was in Sweden but it didn't have the envelope or pouch either. I would have loved to have that set but $30 shipping was too much but the razor set was flawless including the box.