Thread: Barnsley Bros razor information?

I recently purchased this Barnsley Bros razor for an embarrassing small amount of money. I have only a small amount of info on the company from what I've been able to find on the internet. If any collectors or historians could provide me with any information it would be greatly appreciated. It came with the leather pouch pictured and I'm wondering if it came with the razor or if it was bought later. The Talon zipper style seems to be from the 20's or 30's which would date it to after the company closed in the late teens correct? I couldn't find the exact zipper slide so I'm not certain. Any info would be awesome.

I gave it a go shaving and it was surprisingly, (or not surprisingly lol) nice. It fits well in the hand and feels secure. Thanks again. -Ryan

Ive never seen a zippered pouch for a razor. Not that im any historian. It looks like a 1920s era US made razor. made in MO. A few makers in MO back then. Good American Steel. too bad about the hone wear on the spine but it happens to a lot razors when folks didnt knlw what they were doing or really cared about it.

Doubt that case is original but that's just a hunch.

BARNSLEY BROS. USA
Monett, Missouri
circa 1898-1906

https://sharprazorpalace.com/razors/...ml#post1053478

That's what I found so far. Good thing is they were cutlers not importers which means they weren't just slapping their name on someone else's seconds. Contact razors weren't always bad but can sometimes be of second quality. Also it means that is in fact American steel from pre WWI. American steel from that period was very hard and holds a good edge. They list in the collector guide toward the lower end but they do still list so it will probably not fetch a lot for resale but if the idea is to shave with it then who cares? It does have a little wear but should still give decades more service. You might want to do a heel correction as it looks like the stone is catching the stabilizer a bit on the show side. It also looks like it might be starting to develop a bit of a heel hook. There are some good threads on that scattered about. That should make a good utilitarian shaver.

That's about the same info as I could find on the company. I've only had it about a week but I plan on just having a serviceable shaver with it. I hope it's not against the rules to tell what you paid for a razor, so if it is I can remove it, but I only paid 3$ American for the razor in the pouch. If I can get 10yrs shaving out of it I'll be happy! This is the first razor I've had that's this thin. The angle of attack it seems to shave best at is right on that line of nice close cut... and murder lol. It feels surprisingly solid in the hand for the size of it though.
I don't have the skills yet to confidently bring these old razors back into fighting shape but I'd like to find good craftsman here. I've only been shaving with a straight razor for 3yrs but I also don't shave that often so you could almost say I'm a first year guy lol. I'm looking forward to absorbing the vast knowledge here. Thanks for both of your advice.

Don't know if this is related and was an earlier family member or not.

GEORGE BARNSLEY & SONS,
Cornish Works
Sheffield
ea. 1860 - (1919)
Cutlery of all kinds
Ref. 1892, 1919, 1974