Looking For Manufacturer of This Straight Razor

A friend asked me to track down the manufacturer of the razor below, but I have exhausted all the resources I can think of except the forum.

I believe I have narrowed the manufacturer down to two possibilities: Germany by Weyersberg or Russia by STIZ.

My thinking about this being made by STIZ goes along the lines of - there is no 'Made In Germany' marking on the tang, and very few other identifying markings. STIZ was created in 1950 and carried the MARS trademark (link below). The '50' on the tang may be a manufacture/export date.

STIZ, USSR STRAZORS.com - all about classic razors - ???? (STIZ), USSR. and
http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwiki/index.php/STIZ

The Razor In Question

1
Attachment 213033

2
Attachment 213034
3
Attachment 213037

Example of the German made MARS

1
Attachment 213036
2
Attachment 213035
Any thoughts?

The similarity between the two Mars stamps, right down the smaller number out front, is pretty suggestive. I'd be willing to wager they were made by the same manufacturer.

The 50 probably isn't a date though. Typically numbers stamped in that area of the tang are just model #s.

Yeah, the two 'MARS' stamps are extremely similar. In fact, I cannot see any difference.

The mention of the technology base being copied by STIZ, makes me wonder how close the copy of the 'MARS' logo is, because it appears perfect.

Thanks for the note about the model number.

I found that Weyersberg is still in existence, in a different capacity, and have emailed the company.

Website
http://www.military-swords.com/startweb.php

On your photos no razors USSR. I have seen many Soviet razors, but there was not.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gipson

On your photos no razors USSR. I have seen many Soviet razors, but there was not.

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It's looking more and more like this may be of German origin. Thanks!

I received word from WKC (Weyersberg) as follows:

Dear (SuiGeneris),

i´m sorry, we are not able to check if this razor was done by wkc in the past.
There no historical documents because of ww2.
But we this razor was NOT done by wkc.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen / Kind regards

i.V. Norman Koch

Betriebsleitung / Factory Manager
_______________________________________
W.K.C. Stahl- und Metallwarenfabrik
Hans Kolping GmbH & Co. KG
Wittkullerstr. 140-144
42719 Solingen
Germany

Hmmm.... I dunno then. Maybe this thing was made stateside (no made in Germany stamp), and the 'MARS' logo is just a coincidence in that block capitals like that were common. Nah. Back to Google I guess...

EDIT:I might have something this time.....

Attachment 213150
http://www.alcoso.com/

Sent an email.

The MARS name was owned by Koken Barber Supply (1896-1925 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA). Koken didn't actually make razors, they farmed it out to other makers and had a stamp put on it but Mars, The Moor, Apollo, Success, West Point, Telephone, and New Congress names belonged to Koken.

It's kind of like buying an Sears circular saw today. It says Sears or Craftsman on it, but it is just a rebranded Ryobi.

Sometimes the makers were in the US, sometimes they were in Germany (not necessarily Solingen). Who actually made the blade, I doubt we will ever know, but to me the german one looks like an Ern blade and the non german one looks like a Challenge blade.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by criswilson10

The MARS name was owned by Koken Barber Supply (1896-1925 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA). Koken didn't actually make razors, they farmed it out to other makers and had a stamp put on it but Mars, The Moor, Apollo, Success, West Point, Telephone, and New Congress names belonged to Koken.

It's kind of like buying an Sears circular saw today. It says Sears or Craftsman on it, but it is just a rebranded Ryobi.

Sometimes the makers were in the US, sometimes they were in Germany (not necessarily Solingen). Who actually made the blade, I doubt we will ever know, but to me the german one looks like an Ern blade and the non german one looks like a Challenge blade.

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Good points, thank you. It may be a dead end, especially if I don't hear from alcoso.
Too bad the razor did not just say Dubl Duck :rofl2: