Thread: Dating a Wade & Butcher

Hi folks. I just picked a Wade & Butcher that’s been nicely restored. I’ve had a lot of Wade & Butcher Razors but I’ve never seen a blade exactly like this. I’ve seen similar once’s but not with the grooves on the spine. Was wondering if someone might know approximately when it was made.

Sorry, can't help. Never dated a Wade and Butcher but I hear they can be fun.

Bob

I was thinking the same thing Bob! Anyway, it's a nice looking razor and i don't think i've seen one with jimps like that. As far as the age they were required to put the country of manufacture on them around 1891 so it was most likely made before that. Other than that i don't know.

Seeing it only says Sheffield with no England I would say pre 1890.

It's certainly a nice looking blade. Good spine work. As a guestimate I'd say 1870-1890.

Nice find. Looks like after 1850 but before 1900 like others have said. Can't see the tail. That might help. Probably 60s or 70s. I too have never seen one jimped like that up the spine. I wonder if it is a custom manufacturers piece or if someone had it modified along the way. Nice whatever it was.

Wade and Butcher acid etched makers stamp came later. I'd say 1880's. The fancy spine is original to the razor and not a modification IMHO.

Listen to him. He sounds like he knows more about it than I do. I'm just going by the look of it and comparing it to other ones of the period I've seen.
Hey Karl, do you have some reading or material I could look at to help with dating these? I have seen some resources but nothing as definitive as your information

I agree with the others. The range is really fuzzy, but definitely between 1860 and 1890.

The lack of the “cross / arrow (B)” mark is suggestive of earlier, but not a dead certainty. It was *usually* used after 1870 or so, but not really reliably until 1900 (give or take).