Thread: Best of Times; Worst of Times

I browsed the local flea market today. There was a man named...I forget. But I saw him only one other time months ago. He had a TON of razors and a BAZILLION stones of every size and color. (I know nothing about stones, but he said stones were his real expertise...not razors. He even explained some regional differences between Arkansas and Belgian stones. And I have no idea what he was talking about.)

Anyway...I wanted a few razors for myself, and I saw SEVERAL DOZEN that might interest other forum members. So I spent half my paycheck, and I bought what I could. (I'll clean them up a little and offer the ones I don't want on the BST.) And what I could buy only equaled five razors. (He was asking top dollar on most of them.)

So here is what I bought...

(NOTE: With the exception of the Smith, all scales are in great condition. A few small bug bites here and there, but no cracks anywhere.)

1. JR Torrey Old English: This one is cool. It has clips on the scales that snap the blade closed. The scales read: PATENTED AUGUST 1, 1905. The blade is full concave. (I think that's the term.) It cuts inward, back outward, and inward again toward the blade edge. Cool stuff.

2. Wade & Butcher Hollow Ground: This is a MONSTER concave grind or faux frameback. Thick and heavy. (And a little too much razor for me.)

3. Jose Monserrat Pou Filarmonica #13: I am sad. And let me explain. I paid $60 at a steal for this razor. The gold wash was untouched. A few black blemishes here and there, but I'd say it was never used. No bevel. Nothing. And then I start to Maas the black spots away, careful not to touch the gold wash. Perfect. Then I flip it over to Maas the backside. Out of sight, out of mind. Argh! I turn it over and the gold is gone. I polished it away. No big deal...since I noticed the small crack in the blade about 1/2" from the toe. (PHOTO: The crack is unseen, but at the exact spot where the blade rests against the accent mark above the "O" on the box. The other "cracks" in the photo are lint.) Argh! That's $60 spent on junk! I guess that's why he gave me such a sweet price on this one. Oh, well. What can I say? I am an idiot.

4. LeCollier A Nogent / France / Le Royal Razor No. 12:This is one sweet frameback! The geometry on it is too cool. Cuts here, slants there. Cool stuff. And the blade, as I was told, is Damascus steel. I disagree. Granted, I no absolutely nothing about steel forging, but it looks like a simple acid etch design to me. But who knows? I'm an idiot, remember?

5. Smith: This is my "happy day" razor...

GEORGE SMITH & SONS
Peacroft, Sheffield
Trademark: Cross and "Smith"
In business in 1774
1770-1785 ("Old Sheffield Razors" by Lummus. Antiques, December 1922 p.261-267)


6. Belgian (?) Stone 6"x1.5"

All in all...I paid $60 for a piece of nice looking junk, but I found a 1700s razor in beautiful condition. (The blade, not the scales.) So it was a happy day.

Christopher