New Flea Market find.

Check out what I scored today, browsing the Antique store with the wife.

Attachment 253218
Attachment 253219
Attachment 253220
Attachment 253222
Attachment 253223

Not enough of an expert to know if the blade can still be made shave ready, but I think it could be. Scales are in AWFUL shape, but overall I'm pretty pleased with picking it up for $6. Only markings on it are "George Wostenholm & Sons celebrated IXL Razor. Washington works" so I don't really have anything to date it with other than to say it's Post 1848. It'd be nice to think it's a hundred years old, but I'd say that's not likely. It could be as new as the late 70's? Is that correct?

Anyway; wanted to share with you guys. If anyone has any additional info, feel free to share!

Very nice!!

It should be able to be made shave-able fairly easily

Hope it turns into a good shaver! I love a slight smile like that one, nothing over the top

Excellent find! I love seeing great finds from out in the wilds, antique markets, etc. Good lookin' out! That's an interesting grind and gives that blade a distinctive look. Really cool blade there.

Nice find. I bet it will clean up well. I really like the grind. Isn't that what is called a rattler grind?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Leatherstockiings

Nice find. I bet it will clean up well. I really like the grind. Isn't that what is called a rattler grind?

---

I think it's something different than a rattler grind. On a rattler the thick part is usually up near the spine and the rest of the blade thinner, but the thick part on this one goes halfway down the blade.

Perhaps this might help.
http://www.eggintongroup.co.uk/histo...ostenholm.html

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

That's a beauty. Well over 100 years old. Should shave a treat.

Very Very Nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Enjoy,,,Ty

The scales look to be horn but maybe ebony. Lots of info here for rejuvination of each.

I think you're going to be surprised at how well it cleans up.
I have one razor with a similar grind that is surely one of the top five best shavers of my 60 or so razors.
Have it restored and you have something very special.
Congratulations and enjoy!

Pete <:-}

Great find!!!! Looking forward to seeing how it all goes for you.
Clean it up and get er shave ready........enjoy

I would say it has a few things going for it being close to 1848. It appears to be an early attempt at hollow grinding. it does not have Sheffield on it & it was made before 1881 as it does no have England engraved either. Ought to be a great razor if the blade is straight.
Myself I would put black horn scales on it & use the old wedge & washers if you can get it apart with out messing up the washers. Are the scales to messed up to be sanded & buffed out? You might be surprised!!

Dave Huffman

Thanks for all the feedback so far! I for sure plan to have it cleaned up. I didn't take a pic of the other side of the scales, but there is a spot where the back corner, by the wedge and rear rivet, is cracked and being held on by some string. So no, no sanding and buffing I'm afraid. Very encouraged by all the feedback here. Thanks again all for your replies!

Hey If Interested I Will Look For A Set Of Scales That Just Might Put This Bad Boy Back Into Use!!!I,m Just Not Sure If I Have Them In Black,,, I Know I Have Several Blond Horn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Ty

That is a beautiful concave ground razor...they are very nice, exquisite shavers, and obviously made with extreme craftsmanship. Scales are horn.

Here is an example of a concave ground razor, like yours, this is a Greaves:

Attachment 253350

Jeez-oh-mighty you guys are driving me nuts with these super cool razors! I would love to find one like these. So this is a "concave grind"? Way too cool.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by xiaotuzi

Jeez-oh-mighty you guys are driving me nuts with these super cool razors! I would love to find one like these. So this is a "concave grind"? Way too cool.

---

Yes, and here is Wade & Butcher's, Celebrated Double Swaged Concave Razor, Genuine Fine India Steel

Attachment 253351
Attachment 253352

Wow! After I recovered from initial drooling I had to go look up swaging. A forging process in which the dimensions of an item are altered using dies into which the item is forced, usually a cold process but sometimes done hot. Help me understand what's going on here... does that mean it's not actually ground but swaged? How's that work and not only once but double swaged? Still drooling here.

IMO I find these blades to be more desirable than your classic W&B FBU. You just don't see grinds like this that often. Excellent, excellent find. Have it cleaned, fixed, and honed by a pro and you'll have yourself the rarest of the rare.

The old Wosty is what I call a half-rattler. Made before the English got with the (extreme) hollow-ground program.
Seems all the heavy-hitters did them, followed by 'rattlers', which had the long-grind all the way up and close to the spine.

A big old heavy wedge, thinly longitudinally-ground on the bottom half and were considered 'concave' and 'feather-edged'.

Still, a heavy razor with a (almost indiscernible) personality.

Usually great beard-wipers, IMO.

You need a new bevel! If you cannot accomplish it yet, oil it and let it sit until you ruin a few lesser ones in order to learn or send it to someone who knows how.
That one seems quite nice! :D

Hey Tom, half-Rattler, that was the other term I was looking for.

Is concave and half-rattler essentially the same?

Would the Mappin Lancet razor be concave or half-rattler or, are they the same....

The Mappin Bros Lancet-Edged razor falls into the same category as the OP's.

If you consider the angle from the spine-contact to the bevel, The old half-rattlers might seem the same as those (seriously) hollow ground. They are still half-wedges, to me?
However, those which are truly hollow-ground using the same angle indeed have more movement in the blade, IMO. It can be felt and seen...
Lots more personality. Lots of mass missing from the entire blade's face.
IF that is indeed preferable?

Are the blades not considered flat ground on the Lancets?

You have an extreme angle on the top-half. Below that is a much thinner angular grind, done longitudinally.
The bottom grind is not absolutely 'straight' in most cases I have seen. Some do seem pretty straight.
I expect a rounded stone, applied lengthwise.
Just thinly ground at an even angle, a bit concaved. Below the wedge-ground massive spine.
Make sense? Like you have big razor on top, thinner, small razor at bottom.
Angles are done at steps.
Not much smooth and actual 'hollow grinding' .