Thread: What is your most rare straight razor?

The answer to what my rarest razor is is probably this one:





Made by James Stodart with a steel alloy he and Michael Faraday developed, involving mixing high quality India steel with Rhodium supplied by its discoverer, William Hyde Wallaston. These were manufactured for a few years by Stodart and then his nephews after his death, but his nephews quickly moved on to greener pastures, like inventing the process of aging whisky in Sherry casks.

Or maybe it’s this one.



A prize given to the United Mechanics Cricket club of Sheffield in 1863. The United Mechanics Cricket club was so enthusiastic about this up and coming sport, that just three years later they became the United Mechanics Cricket and Football club.

Surely there weren’t many of those made. Not more than a team’s worth.


Probably it’s these, though.



There are two pair. One purchased by William Archbald of Kelso, Scotland (the razors are the earliest incarnation of Pickslay & Green’s ‘Peruvian’ steel which used the same formula as the Stodart razors). 1823.

The second pair, which I got years later from someplace completely different, were also purchased by Archbald, but for his grandson, William Archbald Houliston, in 1845.

Those 4 are all that exist. So those are probably the rarest I have.

Except maybe...

Now THAT is some rare stuff!

Awesome, Zak--was hoping you'd strut some of your rare razors...thanks for sharing with us!

Originally Posted by Voidmonster

The answer to what my rarest razor is is probably this one:





Made by James Stodart with a steel alloy he and Michael Faraday developed, involving mixing high quality India steel with Rhodium supplied by its discoverer, William Hyde Wallaston. These were manufactured for a few years by Stodart and then his nephews after his death, but his nephews quickly moved on to greener pastures, like inventing the process of aging whisky in Sherry casks.

Or maybe it’s this one.



A prize given to the United Mechanics Cricket club of Sheffield in 1863. The United Mechanics Cricket club was so enthusiastic about this up and coming sport, that just three years later they became the United Mechanics Cricket and Football club.

Surely there weren’t many of those made. Not more than a team’s worth.


Probably it’s these, though.



There are two pair. One purchased by William Archbald of Kelso, Scotland (the razors are the earliest incarnation of Pickslay & Green’s ‘Peruvian’ steel which used the same formula as the Stodart razors). 1823.

The second pair, which I got years later from someplace completely different, were also purchased by Archbald, but for his grandson, William Archbald Houliston, in 1845.

Those 4 are all that exist. So those are probably the rarest I have.

Except maybe...

I think he wins? Awesome razors

Awesome, Zack.

Got to love it when someone has a detailed back story for a razor. Very nice.

Originally Posted by JP5

Got to love it when someone has a detailed back story for a razor. Very nice.

The story of my life in a nutshell.

Originally Posted by Phrank

Couple of years ago is when I grabbed this - might have been this one then, glad you forgot to bid.....:-)

Haha well atleast I can enjoy the pictures


Zak it is indeed some nice razors that you have and I knew you had something extraordinary. But theres one problem... I can't get used to your new picture! You look so different!! What to do??

Originally Posted by DNM

Haha well atleast I can enjoy the pictures


Zak it is indeed some nice razors that you have and I knew you had something extraordinary. But theres one problem... I can't get used to your new picture! You look so different!! What to do??

I figured it was time for a picture of me without a glass of absinthe obscuring half my face.

Originally Posted by Voidmonster

I figured it was time for a picture of me without a glass of absinthe obscuring half my face.

Al right i'll give you permission to have it for a week or maybe two..