Thread: Wanted: Pictures of razors from end 18th to early 19th Century with Damascus blades

I'm writing an essay about the European history on research and imitation of the real oriental damascus steel (crucible steel) blades. The Parisian cutler Jean-Jacques Perret plays an important role in this subject. Until now I have never seen anoriginal blade made by him. Has anybody ever seen one of his razor or other blades (Knives, Hanger, etc.) or even better got pictures?

In written sources from1786 to 1825 I found several French cutlers who made razor blades with“Damascus steel”, such as:

Sr. Lethien in Paris (1788): “rasoir (razor) … en vrai damas (true damascus steel) and Damas corroyé (laminated or pattern welded steel)”
M. Degrand in Marseille (1819): M. Degrand (Marseille) : “… des rasoirs, …, composés d'une étoffe d'acier corroyée, semblable à celle qu'on fabrique en Syrie pour former les lames de sabre connues sous le nom de Damas. ” (laminated or pattern weldedsteel)
Mme Degrand-Gurgey in Marseille (1820) : “… rasoirs, etc. en damas de la plus grande beauté. Personne avant ce fabricant n'avait fait de bon rasoirs en damas; ceux de Mme Degrand offrent des dessins très-variés.”
M. Pradier in Paris (1822):“… rasoirs …, qu'il a fabriqués en acier-damas de Clouet, et dont les surfaces,à l'exception des bords du tranchant, sont recouvertes de ces figures variées qu'on remarque sur les lames orientales ...” (laminated or pattern welded steel)
M. Treppoz in Paris (1823):“… rasoirs … en bon acier de damas, qui coupe le fer...”
Madame veuve Charles in Paris (1823) : “… rasoirs d'acier fondu …, et à lames façon de Damas...”
M. Bergougnan in Paris (1823):“… rasoirs damassés ...”
M. Sirhenry in Paris (1825):“… damas de Sir Henry ...”

I would much appreciate any pictures of razor blades from the above mentioned French cutlers or any English cutlers at this time i.e .late 18^th and early 19^th C. Any pictures of blades claimed to be made of Damascus steel (true and imitation).Or pictures of any razor blades before 1825 which have a watered appearance likethe true Damascus blades or pattern welded pattern.

Thank you for your help.

Richard R.

Here you go:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...ds-1771-a.html

http://www.shaveworld.org/home/image...mpfe-rev2.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pogonotomia

http://razorland55.free.fr/Word/perret01.pdf















I looked his name up on Google & found the link to here at SRP plus the other pics I show which 2 or 3 are in the SRP link. I do not know if they are Damascus blades but it is some photo's plus you might contact Martin103 about him. He knows a lot of information that I don't. I hope to gain more knowledge as time goes on.
Amazon also sells books on him.

Thank you for the drawing pictures of Perret's razor blades.

I have got Perret's publications on blades and steel but unfortunately I never found a photo of an original Perret blade (razor, knife, hanger, etc.).

I'm sorry I don't have any references or blades offhand of damask, but I might recommend also asking at le retour de coupe choux if you haven't already (Le Retour du Coupe Chou :: Le Forum du Rasage au Coupe-chou, Rasoir Custom et Kamisori). Charlie is very knowledgeable and has an extensive collection of early pieces.

Try Zak’s website, The Shivering Beggar for some great photos and info.

Lohar from the Coupe Chou Club has a Sirhenry razor in Damas. I'll ask him some pictures.

Here are some pictures of a surgeon set in damas too, from the same cutler.

Got it :

By the way, why is there's a picture of Jacques Perret (early 20th) next to the book of Jean-Jacques Perret (mid 17th) ? ^^

Thank you for the Sirhenry blade pictures. These are very interesting for me. Would it be possible to send me some bigger detailed pictures of this SirHenry razor blade?

I visited the depot of the “musée des art et métier” in Paris to look at Damascus steel samples of Sirhenry (damas de Sirhenry). Unfortunately the surface of these samples didn’t show any patterns, as seen on drawings of the “Sociéte d’encouragement pour l’industrie nationale”.

I forgot to list following other French cutler who made razors that have been sold as “Damascus razors”:

Bernard in Couard 1823: “Dépot de Rasoirs de Damas, de la fabrique du sieur Bernard, à Couard, près d’Autun (Saòne-et-Loire) ”

I'll ask the owner