Thread: Military Boer War razor ... any knowledgeable military folks to help solve clues?

I have had this Sheffield razor for a few years but have yet to solve some interesting clues regarding it. It is an Alfred Field & Co razor and could have been owned by a British soldier, or possibly a Canadian one as I picked it up there. The razor Itself is appropriate for the time period.

It has been roughly scribed on the scales and it is likely a possible date/battle or something of note worth scratching so much info out. It indicates BOER WAR 1442 one side, Feb 22 1901. C. 79 On the other.

I found the date is briefly/vaguely listed as a date that 5000 British pushed on the Boers near Prieska, but I really haven’t concluded much. And the 1442 and C. 79 may signify a unit or designation or???

I am quite pleased to think this may be a bit of early trench art 😀 but need more info to conclude it is legit. Particularly the designation info if possible. Any help would be awesome. Thnx


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Interesting bit of history you have there. If you put "military razor" in the search box upper right corner of the page, you get threads like this https://sharprazorpalace.com/razors/...ary-razor.html . You may be able to find something in those.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Interesting bit of history you have there. If you put "military razor" in the search box upper right corner of the page, you get threads like this https://sharprazorpalace.com/razors/...ary-razor.html . You may be able to find something in those.

Bob

Yes, thank you. I have looked for relevant info here A few times and have seen a small number of threads touching specifically on this topic. I missed the one you posted however, so I thought I should go back and be more thorough. I have searched again, thank you. 👍 My mystery remains, but any razor story is always a great read for me!

A few comments in historic threads suggest I am indeed looking in the right direction regarding possible explanations behind my item, but I remain hopeful somebody can offer direct info.

Sorry I could not be of more help. I think in general you will find a regimental/unit number and a regimental/unit serial number engraved on the scales. At some point regimental/unit serial numbers were dropped in favour of serial numbers given to the individual soldier for the length of their service no matter what regiment/unit they were with. Hope you have some luck in the future.

Bob

Alfred Field was definitely in business then. Some info from Manah:

"Alfred Field began a hardware business in Birmingham in 1836. After was a branch office in New York City. In 1854, he returned to Birmingham. By 1876, he had opened a Sheffield office in Westfield Terrace. He styled the company as a manufacturer of cutlery, scissors and etc.
Alfred Field wasn't a manufacturer. He was a dealer. He sold English, French, and German hardware. He was the agent in the USA for Joseph Rodgers & Sons and Joseph Elliot.
He died on 28 May, 1884, aged 70. The business continued under his son Harry Field. Between 1889 and 1913, Alfred Field & Co's address was Continental Works, Westfield Terrace. In 1890, it also bought the Eyre Street business and trademarks of Edward Gem. During WWI, Field's was based at Ark Works, Trafalgar Street; by 1928 at Cambridge Street, and finally at Eyre Street in 1931. The company ceased trading in about 1933."

The blade looks a ringer for Wade and Butchers Medium Hollow Ground, but could have been made by any number of others.
To my eye, the blade looks full, yet short for the scales. In that regard, may be a replacement?
A picture of the razor closed might help there.

Interesting and likely historical piece!

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Alfred Field was definitely in business then. Some info from Manah:

"Alfred Field began a hardware business in Birmingham in 1836.....

The blade looks a ringer for Wade and Butchers Medium Hollow Ground, but could have been made by any number of others.

To my eye, the blade looks full, yet short for the scales. In that regard, may be a replacement?
A picture of the razor closed might help there.

Interesting and likely historical piece!

Yes I had noticed the blade does seem short as you say, and may well be a replacement. And it does indeed look like a W&B. Hard to say when the rescale was so I like to think it was a repair before the etching so that I feel better about it!

Alfred Field seems to have been a reseller, so buying a local blade makes sense. Don’t really know what to think though about the rescale.



Thanks guys for your inputs - much appreciated.