Thread: Unbranded, Sheffield-made 6/8 hollow ground with Chinese characters

I recently acquired a razor that appears to be a classic Wade & Butcher 6/8 hollow ground razor with a barber's notch. The scales are the typical dark bone. There are no markings on the razor except for 3 Chinese characters on the shank. They are the same as those pictured in this post. The box is a Wade & Butcher marked cardboard coffin. Does anyone have any information on these Sheffield made razors with Chinese markings? I'll try to post a picture in the next couple of days.

I've got a W&B that has a horn handle with "The Celebrated Chinese Razor" pressed into the handle and some imitation Chinese characters etched into the center of the blade. It has the usual W&B tang stamp. I will post a pic tomorrow. I am at work now.

I wonder if it has anything to do with all the contact between GB and China due to opium...

I haven't seen the chinese ones but I do have one that has Indian (possibly Hindi) letters on that I believe just spell out the maker's name - I did hear tell that they were specially made so that migrant workers could feel easier buying them - sounds like old hooha to me but you never know!

Some of these razors were made for the Chinese or Japanese market so they had those characters. I have a German Eye razor with Chinese characters on the blade.

A couple of pics. It has no maker's marks, but it looks like a Wade & Butcher to me. The box is marked W&B for what that's worth. I'm very happy with it and it should clean up nicely. Nice tight scales and little hone wear.