17th century razors?

**FTG** · 07-31-2009, 01:15 AM

I'm interested in finding info. on 17th century razors (or early razors in general).

So far I've turned up 2 examples:

From 1612
Standish Razor

From 1670 (in picture at the bottom of page)
Knives in 17th Century Still Life Paintings

I'm particularly interested in early to mid-17th century (30 years war, ECW)

Thanks,
Michael

**gratewhitehuntr** · 07-31-2009, 01:29 AM

well if you find one one ebay you better not let on

**holli4pirating** · 07-31-2009, 01:37 AM

Clavichord has a pretty nice collection of older razors, but I'm not sure quite how old they all are. There is a link to his gallery in his signature.

Here's the link http://www.eldelphin.eu/v.html

**manah** · 07-31-2009, 01:53 AM

The history of razors, in our understanding, begins with 1740.
Cast steel was invented by Benjamin Huntsman of Sheffield in 1740.
And the commercial use of cast steel didn't begin until 1772.

**FTG** · 07-31-2009, 02:48 AM

Thanks guys,

Just to clarify - I'm not looking to buy an original 17th century razor, but I'm interested in a reproduction.

(I'm occasionally involved with 17th century historical re-enactment).

All the best,
Michael.

**Gunner777** · 07-31-2009, 03:06 AM

Here's another one
Amazon.com: Standard Guide to Razors: Identification and Values (Standard Guide to Razors Identification and Values) (9781574320916): Roy Ritchie, Ron Stewart: Books

**FTG** · 07-31-2009, 03:20 AM

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

Clavichord has a pretty nice collection of older razors, but I'm not sure quite how old they all are. There is a link to his gallery in his signature.

Here's the link V

It is a nice collection of old razors - pity he doesn't seem to have any dates. Presuming the straight scaled ones are early 19th century and before.

Thanks,
Michael.

**Sirshavesalot** · 07-31-2009, 04:46 AM

Cast steel was invented by Benjamin Huntsman of Sheffield in 1740.
And the commercial use of cast steel didn't begin until 1772.

e

Basically Huntsman was a scientist and son of a blacksmith who travelled to India for some expedition and brought back the"wootz" steel from India. Indians had been making cast steel for some time before Hunstman arrived.

I'd say it was the invention or use of crucible steel that really made the type of steel we all love in those Sheffield Razors.

cheers
D

**clavichord** · 07-31-2009, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

Clavichord has a pretty nice collection of older razors, but I'm not sure quite how old they all are. There is a link to his gallery in his signature.

[

Thanks Holli! The gallery was updated yesterday, making navigable the index, and I was thinking about preparing a sort of timeline too.]

There are some razors probably from the last 30 years of XVIII c. (like #71). The oldest one is #61, probably from XVII c. and unfortunately in poor condition. This blade is really thin (like a pocket knife).

As manah says, our present knowledge of straight razors is limited, starting about 1770. We really don't know how styles changed during the previous period, even if it seems that before 1770's razors had been interested by only minor variations of longly standardized features.

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