Thread: The Venture Straight Edge Safety Razor T Glossop Sheffield

Hi Guys, first admission... I'm a girl and know nothing about razors! This set of 4 Glossop razors with "The Venture Safety Razor" guards has been passed down the family. Allegedly first purchased by my great grandfather who lived in Sheffield, UK. from 1890.

I've found that T Glossop had a market stall in Sheffield and made the Kno Kut safety razor which is similar. The Kno Kut guard looks integral but these guards are removable and fit on the blade either way round for right or left handed. The stamps on the blade read "Warranted Hand Forged" and "T Glossop Sheffield". I wondered if anyone can tell me more? The guards fits perfectly, but he also had a set of the same razors without guards so did they come together or separately? Is this something people still want or was it killed off by the double edged safety razors? Does the fact there is no information mean it is extinct for a good reason or a desirable and rare museum piece? Any information gratefully received!

Many thanks, Joelle

I have no clue but someone will jump in soon. I will just say welcome to SRP.

Welcome. Nice kit! Unusual to see them complete with the combs despite 2 missing. A bit scarce since they were domestic products.
T. Glossop was a merchant, as you have discovered. His brother was a scale presser. Seems razors were a great part of his business..
Certainly he was quite the gardener as well.
Totley History Group - Thomas Glossop

There is a thread buried here I have yet to find......
In the meantime, A pic of My T. Glossop (bought out of England) in some Dutch export silver.

I have no information but welcome to the site. The short answer to one of your questions is, yes people still want straight razors. The ones you have are an oddity so they would be sought after by a shaver but even more sought by a collector. I digress. There are two distinct kinds of straight razor markets and the people within them. Collectors and shavers. In really broad brush strokes collectors are more interested in rare things and shavers are more interested in functional thing. Of course there is some overlap but what you have was made more as a hair shaper or beard trimmer than as a face shaver. Not that they can't do both with them. I have a fixed blade that has a similar guard which I shaved with yesterday. Predominantly because I was preparing it for my wife to use on my neck after I cut my hair (I cut my own). I have also used it to trim my mustache.
That is a very cool set and it is great that it is so complete including the box.
Hope you enjoy your time here.

Thanks everyone, that's all really useful information. The detail in all these threads is truly addictive... maybe I can get the men of the family interested in them after all. Cheers!!!

If I may, These razors are indeed for shaving. The combs are much like the combs and bars of safety razors, hence the name upon them.
The comb keeps the user from using too steep an angle while letting the hairs pass through to be cut by the edge.
They are reversible so that they may be used on either side of the razor.

Of course, they can be used without the guards like any open razor.

Well then I am happily corrected as I was under the impression that these were in fact trimmers. My apologies. Thanks Tom. That makes much more sense of the combs. I have some trimmers with combs and the comb on "The Real" is much different.

Yes the guard on the Real works the same way.

Funny, I thought the OP's first pic was 2......All 4 are there! That is quite rare, I am sure.

I have a Henckels which looks exactly like that. Missing guard.

Found a pic. Same top-jimps.



Looking at this variety, he was no razor maker.
Had them made and stamped from everywhere.
Although he DID maintain a fine garden for his last 35 years....While being blind!

The kno kut was a nice razor I did have one, the guard was easily removed and you could just swivel it easily to the other side, I did have a very nice example of one a few years back, never seen a set like yours, very nice indeed.

https://www.sheffieldhistory.co.uk/f...-safety-razor/

Above is a link with some info on the Kno kut

The blades on your model seem of higher quality imho thicker grind,

The guard on "The Real" swivels around also.