Thread: George Marsden Magnum Bobum

I picked up this little guy a while back and keep forgetting to post. I searched for about 4 years before finally getting this one. It is still in as found condition, likely to stay just like this for a long time. (I'm calling it a George Marsden based solely on the opinion of others, as I have not the skills in researching accurately enough to make that determination)

I'm impressed ..what size is it?

Originally Posted by JOB15

I'm impressed ..what size is it?

It is only 8/8, the pic next to a smaller razor is deceiving as the second razor is one of my diminutive razors, quite small.

Is there a way to edit the name of the thread? I misspelled "Bonum" haha

Wow that is a neat razor.
You should be able to edit the post as well as the title. I'm not tech enough to inform you but it should be doable.

Lovely Razor, I had a look through the Sheffield trades directories and the only George Marsden is this one below:

Marsden, George (, Edge Tool Makers (& Co.)).
Address: Green Lane, in 1828-9.
Recorded in: Pigot's Commercial Directory - 1828 to 1829.

There are other Marsdens (the name is quite common here !) listed making various items, such as below:

Marsden, Benjamin (, pen and pocket knife manufacturer and general dealer in cutlery).
Address: 41 Scotland Street, Sheffield in 1825.
Recorded in: Gells 1825 Directory of Sheffield.

Marsden, Ebenezer (, merchant & manufacturer).
Address: h. 3 Portobello Street, in 1833.
Recorded in: Whites History & Directory of Sheffield - 1833.

Marsden, John (, pen and pocket knife manufacturer).
Address: 34 Radford Street, Sheffield in 1825.
Recorded in: Gells 1825 Directory of Sheffield.

Marsden, Joshua (, Pen and Pocket Knife Manufacturers).
Address: 41 Scotland Street, in 1828-9.
Recorded in: Pigot's Commercial Directory - 1828 to 1829.

Marsden, William (, pen & pocket knife manufacturer).
Address: 7 Westbar Green, in 1833.
Recorded in: Whites History & Directory of Sheffield - 1833.

Marsden, William (, Razor & tableknife manufacturer).
Address: 86 Hoyle Street, in 1852.
Recorded in: White's Gazetteer & General Directory of Sheffield - 1852.

(The last one is a good few years after your razor was made)

Originally Posted by silverloaf

It is only 8/8, the pic next to a smaller razor is deceiving as the second razor is one of my diminutive razors, quite small.

Only an 8/8 ths ha ha.
That is a Nephilim blade.
It has a great shape to it.

Originally Posted by 782sirbrian

Lovely Razor, I had a look through the Sheffield trades directories and the only George Marsden is this one below:

Marsden, George (, Edge Tool Makers (& Co.)).
Address: Green Lane, in 1828-9.
Recorded in: Pigot's Commercial Directory - 1828 to 1829.

There are other Marsdens (the name is quite common here !) listed making various items, such as below:

Marsden, Benjamin (, pen and pocket knife manufacturer and general dealer in cutlery).
Address: 41 Scotland Street, Sheffield in 1825.
Recorded in: Gells 1825 Directory of Sheffield.

Marsden, Ebenezer (, merchant & manufacturer).
Address: h. 3 Portobello Street, in 1833.
Recorded in: Whites History & Directory of Sheffield - 1833.

Marsden, John (, pen and pocket knife manufacturer).
Address: 34 Radford Street, Sheffield in 1825.
Recorded in: Gells 1825 Directory of Sheffield.

Marsden, Joshua (, Pen and Pocket Knife Manufacturers).
Address: 41 Scotland Street, in 1828-9.
Recorded in: Pigot's Commercial Directory - 1828 to 1829.

Marsden, William (, pen & pocket knife manufacturer).
Address: 7 Westbar Green, in 1833.
Recorded in: Whites History & Directory of Sheffield - 1833.

Marsden, William (, Razor & tableknife manufacturer).
Address: 86 Hoyle Street, in 1852.
Recorded in: White's Gazetteer & General Directory of Sheffield - 1852.

(The last one is a good few years after your razor was made)

The Marsdens in this style have been described as "a thorny mess" and for good reason, as you showed.

Read thru this link. It is convincing but again, I'm no expert judge even with all the available evidence.
Sometimes, the only evidence is circumstantial. | The Shivering Beggar

Originally Posted by JOB15

Only an 8/8 ths ha ha.
That is a Nephilim blade.
It has a great shape to it.

15/16, not 8/8. I'm quite used to using 9/8-11/8 blades primarily, but yes it is still a large blade, quite husky and heavy. The shape of this particular one and all the original details intact is quite an awesome find for me, better than I would have hoped for.

This blade has some of my favorite characteristics of many razors of the period, such as the little line ground into the blade by the heel (it is a line intentionally put there), and the fact that the tang is actually a bit thinner than the blade. We have seen these particular styles of large Magnum Bonum razors stamped Wostenholm, Greaves, and others as well. Some of my favorites.