Thread: Wade and Butcher near wedge.

So I picked up this W&B on flea bay. I was the only bidder.



Dressed in horn with no wedge.


It appears to be circa 1830s by the blade shape and the scales. The grind makes it seem a little later but it may have been re-ground. Still looks to be a near wedge though. Scales are in pretty good shape and it has domed silver collars with brass pins.

It was really dirty when I got it and I just did some preliminary cleaning with a fingernail brush and some soap and water to remove some of the grime from the scales. Once I did I noticed something strange in the back side scale.


I can't figure out what it is. You can see it from both sides. I don't see where a repair was done unless it was a hell of a good job.This horn seems to have been more translucent than it is now so maybe some sort of inlay like a badge or something maybe???
Whatever the case I have high hopes for this one. I have been looking for one for my son among what I have and ones for sale. I'm thinking maybe this one is the one... maybe. We'll see. It seems to be in pretty good shape. I am going to do a bevel set as soon as I get some time.but from what I can see I have no real concerns.
Anyone have any thoughts?

Looking at this thing and trying to figure out a date of production. I'm a little conflicted. Maybe 1830s is early. The straight scales and tapered blade seem early but the grind is throwing me off. I guess I am basing this on catalog pics of other makers mainly Wostenholm I think. Anyone have any divinations?

It's an old wedge reground hollow long ago. Hone that puppy-up!

Wasn't really what I meant but I guess I get the message. Never mind then.

Originally Posted by sharptonn

It's an old wedge reground hollow long ago. Hone that puppy-up!

Off topic, but how did that work exactly? Why would you take a razor in to be reground? Was that common for barbers?

Hone wear for one. Old stock became R.E. ground when hollows became more fashionable, marketable. People lived with very little extra in those days, everything that could have its life extended did. Things were made in the best quality possible and milked for everything they had before being set aside. It’s hard for many to fathom the concept as many of us have grown up in the cheaper, faster, disposable society that followed.

A noce old razor all the same. Like second quarter of the 18’s, reground by skilled hands no doubt.

That’s a nice old blade.
Regrinding certainly made them lighter too I’d imagine which was part of the popularity of the new hollows when they first came out I’d bet.
Skills long forgotten, and not passed down, guys like us are trying to relearn from history and good judgement.
Regarding those scratches on the B scale, interesting, could be stress but more likely an identifier for a common bathroom.
Can you feel them on the surface?
It’s almost like it lookS pressed in, like it could have been in a vice at one point in its life?
W and Bs are almost always worth the effort.
The one I started “the butchered blade” thread with, really wasn’t, but I was young and enthusiastic back then, hehe..

It is something pressed in from the back side of the scale.



I think it will show up better once I sand some. Right now I am transferring all the stuff from my old service van to a new one and I can't work out of either till I get it done. 10s of thousands of tiny parts to move and it is dawn until late night trying to get it done. My old one has 330,000 miles so it is time

It just occurred to me that maybe the horn was wanting to curl and this was maybe not a fix but a preventative to keep it flat. It looks like there is another closer to the pivot. When I saw the listing I thought that it was dyed horn that had faded but after cleaning thought it was more blond. I think the thing that has me perplexed about it is the spot in between the bars is darker like an emblem meant to show through translucent horn though I don't know why anyone would do that. Perhaps if it was re-ground someone did a repair for scales curling then?????
I guess time will tell. I'll be lying awake at night wondering.....