Habbon Sheffield England

I was at an antique store today and saw a razor by a brand name of Habbon which had a Sheffield England stamp on it. It was in fairly good condition with no rust and not too much ware (bit of a flat spot though). It was CAD$22 which seemed ok but i've never heard of the brand. Does anyone know if it's worth a buy?

Also, i saw a Wade and butcher which was in good condition, no rust but a bit of grey here and there that i guess some MASS would get out. It was somewhere between 5/8-6/8 and had bone handle which didn't have much rigidity in the middle. It was CAD$35 which seemed like a good deal but it had a bit of a flat spot on the spine. Do people think that's a good deal?

thanks guys

orfeo

I'm not familiar with the brand however there were so many makers most are really unknown and those are the ones where you get the best bang for the buck. I would say if its a sheffield made razor its a quality razor and worth the money if in good shape. The W&B sounds pretty good depending on the scales and the spine problems.

I agree with...if it's Sheffield...it started out as quality

Maybe it was HADDON? I have one that I'm getting honed up for me by one of our resident honemeisters. I was chasing the edge, and finally gave in. I'm waiting on his assessment.

ahhh Chris, i think you're right. I just scribbled the name down but i think i must have written the wrong one. i'd love to hear how your one feels after the resharpening. I may go back in and get it as i'd like to have a backup razor (i just wanna be careful not to end up with too many of these thing :)

orfeo

Pre-restoration by Garythepenman--

http://straightrazorpalace.com/image...ize/HDN_01.jpg

http://straightrazorpalace.com/image...ize/HDN_02.jpg

Shown here after restoration with Asian Cinnamon scales--

http://straightrazorpalace.com/image...e/GTP_A-03.jpg

The razor handled well, I just couldn't get an acceptable level of sharpness on it. So, I'm hoping a guru can finally get this thing fully into my rotation. I will certainly let you know my impression when I get it back.

yeah that definitely looks similar apart from the fact that the one i saw was quite narrow, like probably only 5/8 of an inch which kind of irked me as i prefer a wider blade like the one you have.

orfeo

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TOB9595

I agree with...if it's Sheffield...it started out as quality

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+1

My personal rule of thumb is: If the blade is in good shape and it's made in England, Germany, Spain, France or the USA I'll take it provided the cost isn't too high. A "good deal" to me at an antique store/flea market would be $15 to $20 US, more or less depending on quality, maker, etc....

crichton

i was surprised to see you mention USA in that list, i don't know much about anything but i'd assumed that the US doesn't make good blades. Are there any areas in general to look for (made in NY etc?)

orfeo

Hey, there were some fantastic American razors, with wonderful history that many folks consider as good or perhaps in some instances better that Solingens or Sheffields -

Most of the ones that I look for came out the Western New York, specifically - Genco and Ontario Cutlery out of Geneva, NY - and the Cattaraugus Valley/Little Valley razors - Cataraugus Cutlery, Case, Twins, Engstrom, Korn, and other manufacturers in New York State like Red Points (made in Utica) and Robesons (very highly respected, made in Rochester, NY).

Other great America razors are the Shumates, Keen Kutters, and Toreys (do a search for Torey on the BST, and see what you come up with) -

That isn't all of them by a long shot - but pretty much at the turn of the century, anything they could do, we could do, did, and do as good or better - I think a lot of the mystique of Solingen and Sheffield razors especially, is in the name since to users of cutlery, swords and so forth - Sheffield was pretty much *the* place to get anything made from steel for centuries - the reputation stuck, and rather gives the American razors an undeserved short-bus designation.

K

Haddon brand cutlery was manufactured by W.R.Humphreys & Co. of Sheffield.
W.R.Humphreys was born in Ireland circa 1856. He was an apprentice in the ironmongery trade before becoming a traveller for a cutlery firm. In 1880 he set up his own business in Eyre Street, Sheffield. Around 1900 he acquired the business of John Wragg, renaming Wragg's Advance Works in Denby Street as the Haddon Works. Humphreys died in 1911. The company moved to the Portland Works in Randall Street in the 1960s. It was last listed, in Matilda Street, in 1970.