Thread: Old razor

This one looks old, old.

I think it says J Bagshaw .

I will defiantly be restoring this one sooner rather than later.
It will be interesting and not such an intricate job. It is a shame the one scale is knackered . I will replace like for like with horn .

1805-1815, I'd say.

Unfortunately, there aren't any helpful directory listings that match up with the timeframe for a J. Bagshaw, and there aren't any in the right trade OR time for T. Bagshaw (which that first initial might be).

My guess would be that it was made by one of many James or John Bagshaws who were apprenticed between 1780 and 1800. Not everyone who made razors also made enough to get a directory listing. Sometimes they worked as Little Masters for a larger firm and occasionally turned out goods with their own name on it. Either way, the end result is that there are more names on Sheffield cutlery than there are directory listings, and the apprentice registries are only so helpful.

Almost certainly, that razor was rescaled, though the scales that are on it -- either style, since it looks like there's a different one on each side -- are a good match for the time.

Thanks for the info.
The scales are the same although its hard to see from the photos.
One of the scales has lost a few layers and has gone down to more of a transparent look. 200 year old horn can do that I guess?

I am curious as to what would the blade would have looked like originally. Would the shape have been much different. Is there a tone of hone ware on this .
I cant wait to shave with it .
Thanks again

Hi, THe age is showing and it may clean up ok.
There is a great thread on the old razors:
stub-tailed-shavers
Enjoy your journey!
~Richard

Originally Posted by Geezer

Hi, THe age is showing and it may clean up ok.
There is a great thread on the old razors:
stub-tailed-shavers
Enjoy your journey!
~Richard

Great thread. There are some really impressive ones.

Originally Posted by JOB15

Thanks for the info.
The scales are the same although its hard to see from the photos.
One of the scales has lost a few layers and has gone down to more of a transparent look. 200 year old horn can do that I guess?

I am curious as to what would the blade would have looked like originally. Would the shape have been much different. Is there a tone of hone ware on this .
I cant wait to shave with it .
Thanks again

The transparent look isn't from losing layers, it's transparent horn. Most likely, originally a mock-tortoiseshell with spots dyed on. The black side is likely also dyed, but it would have been to make it a consistent color not because it was originally transparent. The two pieces come from different razors.

As for the blade, it would have originally looked much like it currently does, just a bit more. Probably a little less tapered at the point end and without that little tooth on the heel, but otherwise much the same.