Thread: Basil Shales

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Agreed. The scales were pretty cheesy. Kindof like the Burrell Top Flites. Such good stuff deserves better. I like mine in bone.
Much mo better.

Attachment 355777

Better yet, whale tooth ivory and scrimmed.

I am looking for a perfect New Bedford HMC to put in some nicely scrimmed scales I have which were done by one of 3 brothers who were raised in the art.
Sadly, he used celluloid as a medium, but are very cool with whaling/ships on them.
Need to find those!



Found em! Hot pin melts, but not as easily as celluloid. French ivory or similar
Signed by Daniel Kiracofe, Brother to 'Scrimshanders' Brian and Gary.
Here...https://scrimshanders.com/pages/about-us

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Agreed. The scales were pretty cheesy. Kindof like the Burrell Top Flites. Such good stuff deserves better. I like mine in bone.
Much mo better.

Attachment 355777



Always interesting to learn about people like Basil Shales and H M Christensen who worked with others to move and create products and expand markets.

Guys like Monkhouse and Burrell , Korn and Cattaraugus come to mind. Lots of relationships Between America and Europe too.
It seems that the American cutlery market drove a plethora of partners.
Those of us who live here can see so many different names of sellers and makers rarely seen over the pond.
The utilitarian nature of these things led to being forgotten in time. Documentation is usually impossible to find.
Knowing geographical info and maker's signatures allows us some 'educated' guesses, however.

Wostenholm and Stenton come to mind, speaking of parnerships (rocky as they sometimes are), collaborations sometimes crossing the pond, scales and being replaced by bone.


This massive thing for example 11/8 Wm. Stenton Again Superior "Ne Plus Ultra".


Clearly a rip off of Wosty with whom he had a falling out. A pretty sunstantial attempt to outdo his partner turned rival. Went as far as crossing the pond in an attemp to sieze the American market. So big the scales shrunk so much it wouldn't even close. Fits nicely in this cow femur bone though.

Edit: one more thing then I'm through hijacking: I should mention that this thing was even bigger, by at least an 1/8 when I got it. I had to work a huge chip out, likely from someone trying to open it when stuck in shrunken scales. It was so big it was almost impractical to shave with. Even now it's like shaving with a hatchet. So great was his loathsome fervor to best the man who fired him. It's a really interesting story, the exchange between these two bold capitalists at the peek of the industrial boom.

Originally Posted by Cattleman02

Came across a basil shales SR. Are they good shavers? How is edge retention. Oh and where is a goid reference for looking up manufacture info so I don't have to post every time I want to look up history n razors. Thank you in advance.

There's also...German tool and blade makers. Cutlers marks

Archiving Industries. Com

Anyway, Basil lived 91 years!
Saw this blade on auction site. Dead ringer for a Brockton HMC.

I always dug H M Christensens especially the Ole whale stamping and the hammer with "Hand Made", however all the HMC badging is unique.
The Bossing wedge has an arrow on the front side on the rear is the "Hand Made with an anvil.
Heres these are in my collection

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Agreed. The scales were pretty cheesy. Kindof like the Burrell Top Flites. Such good stuff deserves better. I like mine in bone.
Much mo better.

Not always a winner but this particular wood worked well on this one.

Cool Stamps, Tarkus!
Found another variation....Kristesen & Co with a K and no N?

I have a chase smith I picked up not to long ago with and anvil stamped on the tang.