Thread: Hamburg Ring?

I wonder if someone can explain what "Hamburg Ring" means--I think I've seen this phrase etched on razors made by various vintage razors. Is it a type of grind or point style?

Thanks in advance, Dan

I have a George Ibberson of Sheffield razor etched with "THE HAMBURGH RING" (note the extra "H"). I, too, looked for the meaning of this. As far as I could find out, "Ring" indicates a full hollow ground, or singing, razor. I am not sure whether "Hamburg" indicates that the blade was actually ground in Hamburg (some Sheffield blades were) or just that it is of the Hamburg Grind, i.e. extra hollow with a longitudinal thickening of the blade parallel to, and just back from, the edge.
If someone can answer this question with certainty then I would be interested as well.

Duncan.

A week ago I sold a Joseph Rodgers & Sons razor on this forum. It has "The Hamburg Ring" on the blade and on the reverse tang it says "Ground in Sheffield". I can not say I noticed a special grind to the blade but it is a singing blade. I wonder if the first singing razors were referred to as the Hamburg ring.

Incidentally, I often find when the manufacturer starts writing all sorts of things on the blade, the blade is often not so good. Not so with the Rodgers, it is a top quality razor. Maybe the steel came from Hamburg. I doubt that however.

Recently searched for the answer why Hamburg? and I found. It was approximately 300-400 years ago. Hamburg was once renowned for its high quality razors, and Sheffield Companies at one time exported blades to be ground there, the Hamburg Companies importing Sheffield steel at the same time as they found it superior for there blades.
Therefore many razors is etched "Hamburg Ground" and "Hamburg Ring".

I cannot recall where I read it, I will have to look around for the source, but the "Hamburg Ring" it said was the blade grind. IOW, the profile, shape of the blade after grinding.

With "Hamburg Ground" clearly.
About "Hamburg Ring", I have understood this ring round Hamburg where there were companies.

Originally Posted by manah

With "Hamburg Ground" clearly.
About "Hamburg Ring", I have understood this ring round Hamburg where there were companies.
Probably I have hastened with a conclusion=)).

I wish I could find the source where I read it. Could be Krumholz's Getting to Know Your Straight Razor as it is not in Robert Doyle's Collecting Straight Razors. Wherever I read it that doesn't mean it is correct LOL. If I recall correctly the grind was said to be a bit heavier then a full hollow but thinner then a 1/4 hollow. Looking at my Brosem Hamburg Grind I cannot see a significant difference in it as opposed to other full hollows.

Edit, Just realized that you are probably correct. Hamburg Grind is the style and Hamburg Ring could very well be referring to the group of factories in the area making cutlery.

Jimmy, that looks like a very good shaver!

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

Jimmy, that looks like a very good shaver!

It is a very good shaver. Picked it up out of UK ebay. Actually shaved with it day before yesterday. I had a lot of down time at work so I set the bevel with a D8E and honed it with a striped coticule I got from Howard. First with slurry then without. When I got home I finished it on a Droescher that is kind of a very dark gray and turns almost black when wet. Great shave.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Edit, Just realized that you are probably correct. Hamburg Grind is the style and Hamburg Ring could very well be referring to the group of factories in the area making cutlery.

Jimmy,

Entity13 just brought up in chat a razor that has an etching on the blade face which reads "THE HAMBURG RING" but yet on the reverse side on the tang is imprinted "GROUND IN SHEFFIELD"

What do you make of it? It is a Joseph Rodgers, and includes the "ENGLAND" stamp on the observe tang