McCoy & Co. Frameback?

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07-11-2009, 11:41 PM
Strapped-4-Cache

McCoy & Co. Frameback?

Hi All,

I stopped at an Antique shop on my way back home form a road trip today. I went in looking for a 10x3 natural coticule combo (VERY high hopes) and ended up finding this razor, a Gillette Fatboy in its case, and a W&B that I may have to go back to get.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y10...s/108_2445.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y10...s/108_2450.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y10...s/108_2451.jpg

Is anyone familiar with McCoy & Co.? Nothing is listed on the back side of the blade, and the only thing listed on the tag indicated that the scales were tortoise. I have no clue how to determine whether or not the scales are genuine tortoise, though I have my doubts. The flaky area near the pivot looks amazingly like horn to me.

Still, an unrusted frameback with basically no honewear? I grabbed it since the owner seemed to want to move it TODAY and gave me a very nice (as in rusted out ebay special) price along with the Fatboy, which was also favorably priced.

I'm hoping this won't turn out to be a razor made in Pakistan with poorly tempered steel, so I hope that someone out there can give me some information on it. Sorry about the pics - I didn't have time to set up a lightbox.

Thanks,

- Mark (S-4-C)
07-12-2009, 12:07 AM
JMS

Sorry. Can't tell you anything about the company. I own a McCoy & Sanders Warranted razor. They may be related. I like to call mine my Star Trek razor or Leonard "Bones" McCoy.
07-12-2009, 01:27 AM
manah

"McCoy & Co" existed 1893-1908. Located in New York City, and owned by Joseph Francis McCoy.
Nice razor. But I don't think, that the scales are genuine tortoise.
07-12-2009, 01:36 AM
JMS

Quote:

Originally Posted by manah

"
Nice razor. But I don't think, that the scales are genuine tortoise.

Indeed they are not! Mottled horn actually!
07-12-2009, 04:07 AM
Strapped-4-Cache

Quote:

Originally Posted by manah

"McCoy & Co" existed 1893-1908. Located in New York City, and owned by Joseph Francis McCoy.
Nice razor. But I don't think, that the scales are genuine tortoise.

Thank you for the information! I was hoping someone would be able to refer to a copy of Krumholz or Goins in order to provide some background on this razor, though I had no idea of it's age. I can only hope to look so good when I'm 100+ years old and no "resto" work.

I'm not debating the thoughts about the handle being horn since I thought that's what it was myself. However, in cleaning it up a bit tonight I noticed that the darker spots have a different texture and seem to go through the material instead of being on the surface. Is it possible that they're real after all? How would I check, or can I?
07-12-2009, 05:46 AM
ChrisL

Being a HADdict, I'm still stuck on whether or not you were creating mental images of hoping to find a 10x3 coticule at random (not a bad idea, it makes perfect sense to me:)) or you were chasing down a possible lead??:)

Chris L
07-12-2009, 11:08 AM
Strapped-4-Cache

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisL

Being a HADdict, I'm still stuck on whether or not you were creating mental images of hoping to find a 10x3 coticule at random (not a bad idea, it makes perfect sense to me:)) or you were chasing down a possible lead??:)

Chris L

Nope, no lead. I just went in with high hopes, but not expecting to find anything.
07-12-2009, 01:45 PM
dave5225

1 Attachment(s)

That blade is identical to this Fredrick Reynolds I own . Attachment 27559
I suspect the razor was made in Sheffield by Fredrick Reynolds for McCoy & Co. . It should be a great shaver once it's been honed properly .
07-12-2009, 01:59 PM
manah

Quote:

I suspect the razor was made in Sheffield by Fredrick Reynolds for McCoy & Co.

No. Such form of an edge was done by many companies.
07-12-2009, 08:40 PM
dave5225

Quote:

Originally Posted by manah

No. Such form of an edge was done by many companies.

Perhaps one manufacturer made blades for many different companies . I also have another Fred. Reynolds with the same style blade and identical scales to the razor in question .
07-12-2009, 08:55 PM
manah

Ok. Probably, but I saw 10-15 razors with such form from different companies. And I don't see any connections between McCoy and F.Reynolds.
07-12-2009, 09:16 PM
Traskrom

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave5225

Perhaps one manufacturer made blades for many different companies . I also have another Fred. Reynolds with the same style blade and identical scales to the razor in question .

Well, how about JOSEPH ELLIOT'S "RATTLER" - not so much different eh! Actually looks like same blade :) Sorry for crappy picture

http://traskrom.users.photofile.ru/p.../128915303.jpg
07-12-2009, 09:21 PM
manah

3 Attachment(s)

Not to be unfounded, in Wostenholm catalogue there are three razors with similar blades. Only on my computer I have found two more "Torrey" with similar blades.
07-12-2009, 10:16 PM
dave5225

3 Attachment(s)

Yes I agree other makers made similar style blades , but they did have thier differences , and are not identical . I also have a Torrey , like yours .
Attachment 27613
And a W. Soderen from Eskilstuna , Sweden .
Attachment 27614
The blades are similar in style , and grind but are not identical .
Here is a pic of another Fred. Reynolds I own .
Attachment 27612
Except for the width of the blade , the only difference between the McCoy , and the Reynolds is the name on the tang . I'm not saying I'm right or wrong . I'm only making an observation , and giving you gents , my thoughts
07-13-2009, 12:22 AM
Strapped-4-Cache

Wow. The Reynolds looks like a twin.

Since the razor database won't allow submissions from people with dashes in their user names, could someone copy and post my pics in the wiki for future reference? I'd do it if I could, but until the issue with the dashes is cleared up I'm locked out.

I can only hope that it shaves as good as it looks. I spent time this evening honing it and getting it shave ready. Odd - I can't put an edge on a Spike that I've been cleaning up, but this one took an edge beautifully.

I'll find out Tuesday. I have a date with my new Wonderedge tomorrow morning.

- Mark (S-4-C)
07-14-2009, 02:31 AM
dave5225

I think it should be an excellent shaver , let us know how it works out .
12-25-2009, 04:19 AM
ChrisL

Quote:

Originally Posted by Traskrom

Well, how about JOSEPH ELLIOT'S "RATTLER" - not so much different eh! Actually looks like same blade :) Sorry for crappy picture

http://traskrom.users.photofile.ru/p.../128915303.jpg

The term "rattler" was originally referred to as a specific type of grind done in Sheffield. All the razors in this thread appear to me to be rattler grinds as seen on some of the old texts I've read published in the mid eighteen hundreds. A "half rattler" grind looked like a heavy wedge from the top half of a razor while the bottom half was thin like a hollow ground with a very sharp line of distinction between the two halves. The thinner portion of the rattler grinding was done with the razor held lengthwise on the grinding wheel vs. transverse as in all other grinds.

Chris L
12-25-2009, 08:53 AM
John Crowley

I have read where genuine tortoise turns dark and opaque with age. Those are mottled horn scales. It is a great find. You definately need to hold on to it. I haven't seen one of them before so they are very rare.
12-26-2009, 07:28 PM
Miner123

One thing I can tell you about that razor. It's the real McCoy.