Thread: Help with a W & B

Good day All,

Just scored this W & B at a garage sale.


It is a W & B " CELEBRATED", as indicated on the scales - which are clear horn. 7/8", hollow ground, no jibs. Blade is very clean & heavy. One scale says "WADE & BUTCHER CELEBRATED RAZOR" Scales have some minor chips & scuffs.... and on back scale (as opposed
to printed side) someone had ever so faintly scratched a few numbers and letters down at the end by the pin.


This is the SAME razor as the one on pg 227 of the Ritchie/Stewart guide (3rd ed.) minus the bogus Chinese on the blade and different wording on the scale.


Anyone have an idea of it's worth?


Thanks,
Dave

I bought 2 of that type last year off Ebay - one for $11, the other for $28. I've paid more for W&B's however....

It's worth what you can get for it.

It looks in very good shape, + it's rare to see "Wade & Butcher" on the scales, so that will make the price go up. Wade & Butchers in this condition, and a heavy model like this one should pull a good price. Here lately I've seen razors of well known brands in good shape go for a lot more money than they did in the past.

I'd say a minimum of $60.00, and it could go well over a hundred if you get the right people bidding.

A good presentation with good pictures can bring the price up on an auction.

Wade & Butchers are great razors, and they make great shavers!

Steve

Originally Posted by davabak

Good day All,

Just scored this W & B at a garage sale.


It is a W & B " CELEBRATED", as indicated on the scales - which are clear horn. 7/8", hollow ground, no jibs. Blade is very clean & heavy. One scale says "WADE & BUTCHER CELEBRATED RAZOR" Scales have some minor chips & scuffs.... and on back scale (as opposed
to printed side) someone had ever so faintly scratched a few numbers and letters down at the end by the pin.


This is the SAME razor as the one on pg 227 of the Ritchie/Stewart guide (3rd ed.) minus the bogus Chinese on the blade and different wording on the scale.


Anyone have an idea of it's worth?


Thanks,
Dave

Welcome. Your Avatar looks like you should have been on the album cover of Hairway to Steven.

Cool razor. It's weird how the imprint on the scales were made what I would consider to be upside down. There's Ebay, then there are antique stores then there are garage sales IMO. If I were to see that razor at an antique store, I wouldn't pay more than $45, but as others have said, it would probably go for twice that on Ebay. If it was a wedge W&B meat chopper rather than a more hollow ground blade like you have there it would go for more.

Chris L

Thanks Gentlemen,

Chrisl: I checked the book I was talkin' bout again and the writing on the scale is "upside down" too. That is interesting.

This book dates that razor as being ca. 1850. Also, if I had included a pic with razor closed you'd see the blade through the scale. I thought it was some kinda plastic. Book says its "clear horn"

In general is a razor worth more if it's been cleaned up in a competent way? What about when sharpened & honed, but the "patina" is left alone?

Thanks again,
Dave

PS - You saw from my pic why I've been hunting for only the most serious meat choppers I can get my hands on.