Thread: Wade & Butcher dating help

Hey all!

I'm relatively new to the hobby. I was wondering if any of you might be able to assist me in dating this razor. It was my great grandfather's, who was born in 1890- but the absence of "England" on the stamp indicates it was made before then.

The blade doesn't appear to to be hollow ground.

The ridge along the top of the blade appears to be uncommon- it looks like a separate piece of metal that was folded onto the blade. I've been unable to find any similar razors (by the same company) with this feature online. The blade measures 5/8" near the tang and 11/16" furthest away from the tang.

Here are the images:
https://imgur.com/a/5bGHm

Thoughts?

That is a Wade & Butcher frameback model razor, manufactured sometime after 1870 (most likely).

Framebacks came in several different styles. Some had a single very thin blade embedded in softer metal frame & tang, others like yours had a very thin (compared to a regular razor) blade & tang with a small tube crimped onto the top of the spine to provide the proper honing angle.

The date estimate I'm giving you is based on the style of the manufacturer's mark on the tang. Earlier W&B razors were stamped, while later ones (like yours) were etched.

As near as I can tell the etched marks begin somewhere around 1860 or 1870, it's difficult to be sure.

They're a little less common, but by no means unheard of.

Wade & Butcher Frameback

A version with a blade etch and brass spine.

One which has been reground to be more hollow.