Thread: Razor Identification

#1 - this razor came to me from my pop. One side "TAYLOR WITNESS SHEFFIELD', otherside "Listers Patent No 14338"





#2 - got this one locally, can't find too much on it.

One side "Made in SOLINGEN, Germany", "ACCIAIO MARTELLATO GARANTIA", "8008"
Spine: "EXTRA GERMAN HOLLOW GROUND"

Otherside

"CALIDAD DE GARANTIA"
Spine: "ACIER SUPERIEUR AIMANTE"






Looking for time period or year on both and a bit more info in general on the second

Thanks in advance

TAYLOR WITNESS
NEEDHAM, VEALL (VEAL) & TYZACK
Eye Witness Works, Sheffield
ca. 1865 - 1925

Yours looks like an early 20th century make. Taylor (Eye) Witness are fairly common blades, I'm sure if you look around you'll find more information. Nice razors, every one I honed was a good shaver.

On the second, now that's a peculiar one. Looks like German made, probably first half of 20th century, and quite special (I bet it was a stunner once). Made for export, Spanish text "CALIDAD DE GARANTIA" meaning warranted quality, then the French text on the spine suggests it's magnetized(?).. Is it? There was an Era when magnetizing was done on straights, suggesting higher quality (probably a marketing gimmick, they all made sure to state it clearly on the razor). And then then you have the Italian etching on the face - Hammered steel.

Seems to me whoever made this, really put the work in to make it look nice. Surely made for export... I'm sorry, I've never seen another one like it, stamped 8008 on the front tang like that, suggesting this was a company or brand who made this. There are people on here with access to more information, perhaps someone will chime in.

That is great to have a blade of your father's to shave with!
And that second one is very cool, I would get that one restored, hopefully the blade face is good under the blemishes.
Don't think I ever welcomed you to the forum, welcome!

I agree with Mike, these are definitely worth restoring to a certain degree. First I'd give them a good scrub, get rid of the grease, soap scum, all that dirt logged in the scales and the pivot area.. Then hone them up, see if you can get an edge. Shave a few times, enjoy them as they are. Then consider restoration.

The razor which I received from my Pop will get new handles. Planning to use a local timber that also has some meaning.

May not polish them like I see others doing. Might keep that aged look

Thanks for the advice!

I think I'd leave pops razor alone. Keep it all original, for it holds many stories of family, and will be wiped away.

So many razors out there, none can replace a family heirloom.