Thread: 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?

Pics aren't coming through..

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!

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.

Here the blade with both trademarks, and as you can see below, the trademarks are identical.

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

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.

Here the blade with both trademarks, and as you can see below, the trademarks are identical.

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.....