Thread: So maybe I'm just showing her off...

I agree that it looks like it might have been been reground, but the extra facet between the shoulder and the tang was known as a 'long cut' shoulder, and was a fashion for a while. I don't have dates for when it was used, unfortunately. So it might just have come that way, but it is so marked that I suspect you're right about the regrind. Here's another Cast Steel, marked J.C. CAST STEEL, SHEFFIELD which shows the long cut, but in a more restrained way:



Great shaver, by the way!

Chris

Nice find Holli. I don't know much about age/history but would like to see it the next time we get together. CarrieM might be able to give some info. I'll let her know of this post.

drmoss_ca,
Is the back ivory scale as perfect as the one in front? I caught myself drooling a little when I saw those gleaming white scales.

Yes it is, but I think they are bone rather than ivory when looked at under magnification. Very nice. I notice the stamp used for the words 'CAST STEEL' looks like it is the same as used on the other razors above. I believe this phrase was used up to about 1830 and then fell out of favour. It didn't signify any different manufacturing technique, and was just a marketing term as far as I can tell.

Chris

Originally Posted by drmoss_ca

I agree that it looks like it might have been been reground, but the extra facet between the shoulder and the tang was known as a 'long cut' shoulder, and was a fashion for a while. I don't have dates for when it was used, unfortunately. So it might just have come that way, but it is so marked that I suspect you're right about the regrind. Here's another Cast Steel, marked J.C. CAST STEEL, SHEFFIELD which shows the long cut, but in a more restrained way:


Great shaver, by the way!

Chris

I agree that the shoulder/tang on your cast steel looks like Croaker's, but on mine, the suspected regrind extends into that area; mine differs from both of yours there. But I see what you mean, the original styling, as on Croakers, could give some insight as to the original manufacture of mine. The regrind date would remain a mystery.

Thanks for sharing your info and your blade.

Originally Posted by Joed

Nice find Holli. I don't know much about age/history but would like to see it the next time we get together. CarrieM might be able to give some info. I'll let her know of this post.

Sure thing Joe. At first I wasn't sure if I was going to keep her, but she's such a beauty and an amazing shaver, so she's landed a spot in my rotation. I'd be happy to let you have a good look in person. I hope we're able to meet up sometime soon. I'll be done student teaching in four weeks, so maybe I'll actually have some free time.

I was talking to Lisa, and we're thinking that if you and Karen can't make it here for ziti pizza, we'd like to bring the ziti pizza to you.

Just to add two the puzzle.... here is my W. Greaves & Sons Cast steel with a hollow grind and a Very! thin edge. The tail is hammered out very thin and to me looks to me like its from the first third? of the 1800's..... except the grind. When did they start to grind this thin in Sheffield?..... One of my very best shavers!

Hoglahoo..... Just woundering, I'm hoping that that very John Barber razor is going to show up in my mail in the next few days.... Was that you seling it on Ebay?.... Just hope it looks as lovely as in that pict.

Bill.....

Originally Posted by Newbflat

Hoglahoo..... Just woundering, I'm hoping that that very John Barber razor is going to show up in my mail in the next few days.... Was that you seling it on Ebay?.... Just hope it looks as lovely as in that pict.

Bill.....

It wasn't me but I did consider bidding on it!

Originally Posted by Newbflat

Just to add two the puzzle.... here is my W. Greaves & Sons Cast steel with a hollow grind and a Very! thin edge. The tail is hammered out very thin and to me looks to me like its from the first third? of the 1800's..... except the grind. When did they start to grind this thin in Sheffield?..... One of my very best shavers!

Hoglahoo..... Just woundering, I'm hoping that that very John Barber razor is going to show up in my mail in the next few days.... Was that you seling it on Ebay?.... Just hope it looks as lovely as in that pict.

Bill.....

Must ...MUST proof read

Originally Posted by Newbflat

Just to add two the puzzle.... here is my W. Greaves & Sons Cast steel with a hollow grind and a Very! thin edge. The tail is hammered out very thin and to me looks to me like its from the first third? of the 1800's..... except the grind. When did they start to grind this thin in Sheffield?..... One of my very best shavers!

Hoglahoo..... Just woundering, I'm hoping that that very John Barber razor is going to show up in my mail in the next few days.... Was that you seling it on Ebay?.... Just hope it looks as lovely as in that pict.

Bill.....

I'm not sure exactly when it was, but I know there was a time when regrinding blades became rather popular. I think it was around 1900 or so...

I found something similar in shape and possibly age.

The following specs are borrowed from this webpage: Open Razors

BLADE - MARK - struck with James Hall and Son. The 'E' has parts of the character missing and suggests much use.
BLADE - wide, full edge, straight back
BACK - quill
POINT - round
SHOULDER - single
THUMB HOLLOW - straight with diamond
TANG HOLLOW - short, thick

GRINDING - BLADE - common hollow (reground)
TANG - glazed
TANG END - glazed

HANDLE - possibly a fruit wood, slit to take the blade. Almost certainly original and most unusual. It looks 'right'. Dished iron RIVETS and iron PIN.

DATE - Hall was listed in directories 1825-1835; damaged mark punch suggests 1835.