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Thread: W. Greaves & Sons

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  1. 03-12-2009, 06:23 AM #1
    Sticky
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    Default W. Greaves & Sons

    Does anyone have any ideas on the age or history of this one? (rightmost)

    The only markings on it are "W. GREAVES & SONS".
    Name: greavesEA.jpg Views: 2140 Size: 58.9 KB
    Last edited by Sticky; 03-12-2009 at 06:26 AM.
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  2. 03-12-2009, 02:17 PM #2
    goshawk
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    Sticky

    Judging from the abbreviated tail and straight scales, I'd say sometime around 1840. The Greaves family founded England's first commercial foundry, the Sheaf Works, in Sheffield in the late 18th cen.
    "W. Greaves and Sons" was the name the company bore through most of the early 19th century.

    Goshawk
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  4. 03-12-2009, 02:37 PM #3
    smokelaw1
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    They are great shavers, too! I have one out for restoration work right now. Can't wait to see her all gussied up!
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  6. 03-12-2009, 05:40 PM #4
    xman
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    The tang is a dead giveaway that it is really an older blade. What are the chances that those are the original scales?

    X
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  8. 03-12-2009, 11:21 PM #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by xman View Post
    The tang is a dead giveaway that it is really an older blade. What are the chances that those are the original scales?

    X
    I'm guessing that the scales are original. If they are replacements then I think it was done a long time ago since the pin is steel. It isn't scientific, but when I filed the pin off it "smelled" the same as when hand-sanding the blade. I need to get my basement shop's ventilation in place before I get it fully restored.

    The scales are one piece and it looks like one or more of the previous owners rubbed linseed oil on it regularly. They seem to still be quite solid and I think I'm going to reinstall them after making sure the inside surfaces are well sealed. The balance with the original scales is excellent.
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  9. 03-12-2009, 11:47 PM #6
    dave5225
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    Did someone say Greaves ? Here's one of mine . Name: 100_0009.jpg Views: 2068 Size: 70.6 KB
    Geezer likes this.
    Greetings , from Dundalk , Maryland . The place where normal people , fear to go .
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  10. 03-12-2009, 06:13 PM #7
    Englishgent
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    Quote Originally Posted by smokelaw1 View Post
    They are great shavers, too! I have one out for restoration work right now. Can't wait to see her all gussied up!

    Ditto, I have a absolute monster of a wedge out for restoration and am very excited about shaving with it..
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  12. 03-12-2009, 06:21 PM #8
    Neil Miller
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    A bit more to add to what Goshawk said:

    Started by William Greaves in Sheffield in 1780. His sons joined the company in 1816 to make it William Greaves & Sons. The Sheath Works building (factory) was started in 1823 and finished in 1826. The company was sold to B J Eyre & Company in 1850, but they may have continued to use the Greaves markings for a time.

    Regards,
    Neil.
    Last edited by Neil Miller; 03-12-2009 at 08:55 PM. Reason: correction
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  14. 03-12-2009, 06:35 PM #9
    smokelaw1
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    Quote Originally Posted by Englishgent View Post
    Ditto, I have a absolute monster of a wedge out for restoration and am very excited about shaving with it..
    ooh...sounds nice. My favorite razor right now is a 9/8 Greaves wedge. Well, it might have lost that title to a 8/8 chandler damascus I just got, but it's sure still close tot he top!
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  15. 11-20-2017, 09:59 PM #10
    JazzDoc
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    Quote Originally Posted by Slawman View Post
    I take back what I said about a regrind.
    @Slawman, what about the tail suggested it was reground and why did you change your mind?

    Quote Originally Posted by silverloaf View Post
    If you were talking about the razor the op posted in 2009, yes it's reground, and likely the bottom of the tang is reshaped. The restored Greaves "American Razor" is not reground, and such a nice deep original Eagle Etch and Slogan in the scallops of the spine, lovely!
    How can you guys identify a regrind?
    Teach me something here!!
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