Thread: Help finding more info on a Wade (& Butcher?) razor

I recently acquired a Wade Razor Co. blade (pictured in an unclean state) and I would like to know more about it; unfortunately some of the information I have found online seems contradictory and I am unable to establish a range for the date of manufacture, other than loosely sometime in or after the 1820’s. From my research thus far it seems to have been manufactured in Sheffield by either Robert Wade, or W&S Butcher for the American market using a point of contact in New York named Wade, but the stamping of merely “Wade Razor Co.” seems less common than other examples of "Wade and Butcher" I have found online. I'd really love to be able to narrow down the date of manufacture and possibly even find a model name or number for this piece. Any help would be much appreciated.

I am fairly certain it is 20th century. Someone will be around who knows?

Looks to be in fine nick!

WADE, ROBERT
Sheffield
1810 - 1818 ("Old Sheffield Razors" by Lummus. Antiques, December 1922 p.261-267)

I don't know if you have seen this STRAZORS.com - all about classic razors - Wade & Butcher, Sheffield. as it has the info you already know. Considering your razor is stamped Sheffield and not Sheffield England it was made sometime between the 1820s and 1891. Looking at the style of the blade, it looks hollow ground, scales and monkey tail I'd say closer to 1891. Sorry can't be more helpful. So more knowledgeable members will be along shortly.

Bob

Have you guys noticed that it doesn't say "and Butcher" and shows a $3 price. I don't think it's early 1800's

Yea, it could have England stamped on the other side. Looks too modern to be pre 1891, to me.

My eyes may deceive me here...but,

That blade looks more like one of my blades from the early/mid 1900's... Particularly the nice etch, versus a stamping.

That jimping looks kinda nice too, I remember seeing a thread that was discussing the date of jimping etc., but cannot find it ATM.

From Manah's website ;

Wade and Butcher was a tradename of the W & S Butcher Co. Brothers William & Samuel Butcher started the company in Sheffield in the 1820s. Not too long after they had a partner named Robert Wade who was the New York based importer of W & S Butcher knifes for the US. This was one of the main markets for the company's goods prior to the introduction of the McKinley tarifs of 1891. Not all W & S B knives are marked Wade and Butcher. In 1921 the American company Durham-Duplex bought W & S B and used it for the production of their safety razors as well as other forms of cutlery. W & S Butcher ceased production in Sheffield in 1959.

STRAZORS.com - all about classic razors - Wade & Butcher, Sheffield.

Joed had one of them marked with England, not many of those around, definitely not Robert Wade. By the price i would say 1930 give or take a few.

Thank you all. The clue of the stamping on the box of $3.00 seems to be matched by other razors I have subsequently found which were sold in the 1920’s-1930’s, although wildly variating inflation rates during that era make that price have less relevance. (For instance $3.00 in 1920 would be only worth $2.51 in 1930 due to a cumulative inflation rate of -16.15% between those years, not reaching equivalent value again until 1946.) I suppose I was hoping someone had published a definitive reference guide to straight razors. I believe next I’ll see if I can find newspapers or other periodicals from the era to see if I can spot any matching advertisements; to at least pinpoint one portion of the date range as a starting point. Thank you again.