Thread: First Razor: Wade & Butcher antique set

Hello! So I purchased my first straight razor today as I've been wanting to try it for a while. Originally got fed up with the expensive multi blade razors and moved to safety razors. Now I'm ready for the big time.

I went down to my local antique store and they just had one in stock, and it appears to be a set. I bought it and brought it home and immediately became curious about its history. I had no idea it was so old, as it appears to be in good condition. I read that many have scales made of horn, but that does not appear to be the case with mine, though mine has interesting metal design around the pins that I didn't see on any of the other pictures of Wade & Butchers. I also haven't seen any that include this smaller blade, which I'm guessing is for more detailed work or something like that. The small blade has no markings on it. I intend on using this as soon as I can. It's already quite sharp, but it may need a honing and I don't even have a strop yet.

Anyways, I'm curious if anyone knows more about this set and I just wanted to share. Here are some pics:

I realize I posted this in the wrong forum. Could this be moved to the regular razor forum?

Wow, what a tremendous find. Consider yourself extremely fortunate.

From my limited knowledge, it appears to me that the smaller of the two razors (possibly a 3/8's) needs some work as it has both a frown, near the heel, and a smile, at the toe. It might though be the shadow which gives the impression of a frown.

The razor with the barbers notch, looks as if it has a straighter edge and probably just needs a touch up hone.

I'm sure that once honed and polished up, they'll give plenty years of service.

Once again, a great find.

The larger one seems to have little hone wear. The smaller has been honed down so the edge is not straight. It has a wave to it. I do not believe the scale are original. Can't tell from photos but they may need a good professional hone. Also if they were a set they would have the same tip. One is a barber notch the other is a square point.

Welcome to SRP. The two razors probably are not original to that box. The box, though it may be embossed 'Wade & Butcher' would likely have held horn scaled 7/8 blades originally.

The one blade looks to have been shortened at the point, and is honed past any usefulness as a shaver I think. The notched point has plenty of life left in it. Not sure about the scales, but they may be replacements. The pinning doesn't look like factory to me but I could be wrong, I was wrong once before.

Moving this thread to the razors forum with a 24 hour redirect.

Thanks! I was skeptical about the smaller blade since it has no manufacturers markings. My interest was mainly in the larger one, so I'm glad it looks serviceable. My friend sharpened it up for me a bit with some green and red compounds on balsa wood and then stropping and he was able to shave with it, so I'm going to give it a try today.

Seems like the scales may have been replaced and perhaps it was done on both blades to make a matching set.