Results 1 to 9 of 9
  1. #1
    FTG
    FTG is offline
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Ferntree Gully, Melbourne, Australia
    Posts
    339
    Thanked: 77

    Default 17th century razors?

    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

  2. The Following User Says Thank You to FTG For This Useful Post:

    Geezer (07-29-2014)

  3. #2
    Nemo Me Impune Lacesset gratewhitehuntr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Movin on up !!
    Posts
    1,553
    Thanked: 193

    Default

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

  4. #3
    Know thyself holli4pirating's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    New York
    Posts
    11,930
    Thanked: 2559

    Default

    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

  5. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to holli4pirating For This Useful Post:

    clavichord (07-31-2009), FTG (07-31-2009), xman (07-31-2009)

  6. #4
    Antiquary manah's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Israel
    Posts
    2,535
    Thanked: 1783
    Blog Entries
    34

    Default

    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.
    Alex Ts.

  7. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to manah For This Useful Post:

    clavichord (07-31-2009), FTG (07-31-2009), Geezer (07-29-2014)

  8. #5
    FTG
    FTG is offline
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Ferntree Gully, Melbourne, Australia
    Posts
    339
    Thanked: 77

    Default Clarification!

    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.

  9. #6

  10. The Following User Says Thank You to Gunner777 For This Useful Post:

    FTG (07-31-2009)

  11. #7
    FTG
    FTG is offline
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Ferntree Gully, Melbourne, Australia
    Posts
    339
    Thanked: 77

    Default Old razor collection

    Quote Originally Posted by holli4pirating View Post
    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.

  12. #8
    < Banned User >
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Posts
    425
    Thanked: 363

    Default

    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
    Last edited by Sirshavesalot; 07-31-2009 at 04:52 AM.

  13. The Following User Says Thank You to Sirshavesalot For This Useful Post:

    FTG (07-31-2009)

  14. #9
    clavichord's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Italy
    Posts
    394
    Thanked: 159

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by holli4pirating View Post
    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.
    Last edited by clavichord; 07-31-2009 at 08:50 AM.

  15. The Following User Says Thank You to clavichord For This Useful Post:

    FTG (07-31-2009)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •