Thread: Dating my butcher

Met her today, she's always smiling at me, she's so beautiful, I think I'm in love.

7/8s, near wedge, rescaled buffalo horn scale using original as template, original lead wedge, brass behive collars and pins.

According to the standard guide to razors by Roy Ritchie and Ron Stewart jimps appeared around 1820-1830 and celebrated appeared around 1830-1840. GR 1820-1830, WR 1830-1837 and VR 1837-1901.

She has zero jimps, is celebrated and no GR WR VR. The seller estimated 1830-1840. I'm not so sure, she looks very young.

How old is she?

Be interesting to see what the knowledgeable members think. I suspect that she is not that old from the grind and the tang/tail shape but no expert here. Can't see the tang stamp but was wondering if it says Sheffield or Sheffield England?

Bob

I think the double shoulder started to show up after 1870.

Tang says manufactured by wade and butcher sheffield. Sorry, I can't get a decent picture at the moment.

What is the significance of the "england" stamp? I've heard it mentioned but I'm drawing a blank now xD

Country stamps were required on imported items after I believe 1890 IIRC. There fore if it said sheffield england then most likely it would be made after that date.

The McKinley Tariff Act was passed in Oct. 1890. The country of origin was required on all exports for tax purposes. If your razor had said England then it would be post 1890.

Originally Posted by RedGladiator

According to the standard guide to razors by Roy Ritchie and Ron Stewart jimps appeared around 1820-1830 and celebrated appeared around 1830-1840. GR 1820-1830, WR 1830-1837 and VR 1837-1901.

She has zero jimps, is celebrated and no GR WR VR. The seller estimated 1830-1840. I'm not so sure, she looks very young.

How old is she?

I just found a chart in the book. According to the chart after 1830 razors are made with jimps, which I find questionable. And "celebrated" was used in period 1840-1870.

Originally Posted by karlej

The McKinley Tariff Act was passed in Oct. 1890. The country of origin was required on all exports for tax purposes. If your razor had said England then it would be post 1890.

It does not say england anywhere, just sheffield.

Not sure if it has been exported, I live in UK and the Seller is from UK too if that makes any difference.

Originally Posted by RedGladiator

It does not say england anywhere, just sheffield.

Not sure if it has been exported, I live in UK and the Seller is from UK too if that makes any difference.

Yes, I have wondered about that same point myself. My guess would be that when manufacturing those razors after the McKinley Tariff Act they all received the England stamp as sorting out razors into domestic market and foreign would be a pita. Then again you never know.

Bob

It' pre-1890, and it's not a near wedge, it's a hollow ground razor, the range is probably towards the later part of the 19th century. I have W&B razors with all the marks you mention above, including several of the Celebrated Hollow Ground, and depending on the style of etching on the tang, they do tend to range about 30-40 years towards the end of the 19th century. Beautiful blade.