Thread: What is your most rare straight razor?

I'd like to add a better pic of that one, if ya don't mind,Tom.



Just thought it was more deserving..

Why Yezzzzzz. It Izzzzzzz, Mike!
All-Connecticut, that!

Mr.Sharptonn, I recently landed a pretty little set of three Nowill krosskeys razors with the gunstock style ivory dresses on....the scales are solid, no cracks, but look to be de-laminating at the step down in width...the top half maybe came off in the last hundred years or so......have you ever seen this? I'm going to attempt a repair with CA in about a fifteen layer process. If they come out nice, can I still call these "ivory"? And, have you ever seen this? I'm guessing it was possibly lower grade tooth and they added a layer of wax....??or something?? Any input would be greatly appreciated!!

NOS Heljestrand 'No 2695', 13/16+, ivory. Dunno if rare but haven't seen another (anyone?)

Battley Swift, 5 Thorp Road, Sheffield. He was a Razor Blade forger on the census returns. below is the 1881 listing for him at 5 Thorp Road.
He was at other Sheffield addresses in the 1871 and later 1891 lists. He died in 1901 age 79.
Thorp Road was his home address, I guess his workplace was elsewhere in the city. I've not seen another by this maker, I guess some of the bigger name Sheffield razors may have been forged by his hands.

Here's another uncommon razor, William Bocking whose works were just up the street from Frederick Reynolds. The site has been redeveloped and a new building stands on the site.

Good stuff!


Bartlett and Dow in Lowell, Mass were big on seeds, agricultural things and hardware.
I have not seen another razor sold from there.

I wonder who made it? Does not quite look like Sheffield?

I looked again at my razors and I have a Kris’s Keys razor made by J. Nowell and sons Sheffield. Mine was made prior to 1891It’s a great shaver. I have a Carl Monkhouse Silver Star Razor that I’m not sure how old it is. I know that the star razors were highly sought after. It too shaves great. I have a Wade and Butcher Half Hollow that was m are between 1840 and 1850. It’s not in my rotation but I have shaved with it. I love taking one of those hundred plus year old razors and getting it shave ready.

That’s Kross Keys. Damn auto correct and Parkinsons

Originally Posted by Legman

I looked again at my razors and I have a Kris’s Keys razor made by J. Nowell and sons Sheffield. Mine was made prior to 1891It’s a great shaver. I have a Carl Monkhouse Silver Star Razor that I’m not sure how old it is. I know that the star razors were highly sought after. It too shaves great. I have a Wade and Butcher Half Hollow that was m are between 1840 and 1850. It’s not in my rotation but I have shaved with it. I love taking one of those hundred plus year old razors and getting it shave ready.

The 'star' Carl Monkhouse razors were made in a very short window after Carl ceased production himself and before the name was sold to Peter J Michaels.
I was told an old employee of Carl's was allowed to use the name for a while.
Likely more rare as the scales rotting commonly destroyed them.