Manufacturer ID

Howdy Gents,
This blade says Guaranteed XLNT.
I found info on the manufacturer Wadsworth XLNT.
But no threads on "Guaranteed" XLNT.
Also this blade has a swaged concave grind (or what ever it's called) on the front blade face making it shoulderless on the front but not on the back.

Anyway, it doesn't seem German to me. Wadsworth was in Germany right?
It has a crown too.
Celluloid scales are not original, I would say.
Any info? Anybody else use XLNT besides Wadsworth?

Thank you and have a great day!
Attachment 297227
Attachment 297228

Lovely grind and it looks in great shape.
No info though, sorry.

I looked at that and came up with the same info you did. Could not conclude who manufacturer was so passed on razor.

I've been trying to get my brother into SR shaving. Have let him try out every grind and he likes wedges.
So last week I let him use my phone to get on the Bay and look for a blade. He picked this one.
I was sceptical at first, told him to pick one of mine and I'd send it out for honing. Nope. This one.
Got it in the mail today and was surprised! A beauty!
I should have got it! Lol

Edit: got origins wrong of the other razor. Edited out.

It appears to be a microtome for slicing tissue sections for medical use.
I found that they shave well
JMO, YMMV
,~Richard

Hmmm it doesn't look like the microtomes that I've held before. Perhaps I should have posted pics of both sides and the from the tip.
Looks like a typical wedge razor with a re-grind on one side, like some of the other re-grinds I've seen..

It's English allright - that crown is the 'Made in Sheffield' mark...
Attachment 297284This one's got 3 - they must've been in a very generous mood...

Any historians out there?
Just wondering who used this "XLNT" over the years...?
Possibly changed hands.
I agree that it seems to be a Sheffield maker. That is why Wadsworth made in Germany is confusing to me.

Thanks for the help.

That's a good one!

I have no clue. German razors are mostly out of my wheelhouse, but near as I can tell, XLNT was a trademark of Adolph Kastor from about 1916 to 1930 something.

That certainly *looks* earlier than that, but it might not be. Since it was Kastor's mark, it might actually have been made in Sheffield though I'd really expect to see an origin stamp no matter where it was made.

So. It might be a counterfeit.

Counterfeit?
Manning that someone at around the same time stamped XLNT on it to cash in on Kastors trademarks success?
Well I think I'd have to go with that as you've got a much wider perspective than I regarding such matters.

Thank you Sir, I think I can settle with that.. Black market blade! Oh yeah! Lol

Now I'm wondering if the quality is good. It certainly looks good but ya never know until it's honed..

EDIT: ...unless you mean a modern counterfeit..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MikeT

Counterfeit?
Manning that someone at around the same time stamped XLNT on it to cash in on Kastors trademarks success?
Well I think I'd have to go with that as you've got a much wider perspective than I regarding such matters.

Thank you Sir, I think I can settle with that.. Black market blade! Oh yeah! Lol

Now I'm wondering if the quality is good. It certainly looks good but ya never know until it's honed..

EDIT: ...unless you mean a modern counterfeit..

---

Definitely a period counterfeit if that’s what it is. It’s also possible Kastor bought the mark from someone else. He operated out of NYC, if memory serves.

Chances are good it’s indistinguishable from pretty much anything else from that era.

Bear in mind, this is well outside my main expertise, so don’t feel too confident about what I say on this one.

Now that doesn't sound as colourful as counterfeit... but Kastor buying it from someone else does sound plausible.
Either way is cool with me.
Thanks again Zak!

I don't know about the mark. I have a similar razor with that grind made by David Miller & Son, Eldon Works, Sheffield. Mine has a round point but the same otherwise. I'm guessing 1860's for mine. It does shave very nicely.
I've seen examples from Thomas Turner 'Everlasting', J Blackwell & Son, Saville Street, Sheffield. The Blackwell name was I believe a subsidiary of Michael Hunter & Son, Sheffield. So I'm guessing it was a popular grind at one period in razor history.