Thread: About what year is this meat cutter?

I picked this up in Palm Beach Florida in the early 90's and recall I used up my vacation money too...$75.00.
It's a Wade and Butcher, but the shank/tang is different than most meat cutters I've seen, and the inscription on the blade says 'The Union Must and Shall be Perserved' making it 'seem' to be Civil War era??? However that might not be so, but thought I'd see what any of you 'gurus' might think?

I don't know, but it sure is a beautiful razor.

Well, it might be from that era, why not?

By the way, lovely thumb notch.

Very nice!

From the style of the lettering it fits into that era:-) It's well preserved and an unusual tang for a W&B.

I would agree it would come around the time of the War Against Northern Aggression. Many Northerners, misled by Hamiltonians and other progressives of the age, fought under the guise of "perserving the Union".

Thanks everyone, so any thoughts on 'preserving' this one further? As far as cleaning, etc?
Aaron

I bet that blade would polish up wonderfully with some MAAS and then just hone it up and go to town. I'd look into some new scales - something appropriate for the time frame we're talking about but that's just my personal opinion. If that were mine, I'd go with horn or antler or something like that.

Yeh of all my razors, I'd agree with you, I want to keep it as original as I can...so Maas won't hurt the etching? That's my main concern I guess..

Originally Posted by tampajason

I bet that blade would polish up wonderfully with some MAAS and then just hone it up and go to town. I'd look into some new scales - something appropriate for the time frame we're talking about but that's just my personal opinion. If that were mine, I'd go with horn or antler or something like that.

MAAS will take it right off. You have to decide to keep it as is or lose the etching. Deep etching MAAS is ok but this type is pretty fragile to about any cleaner.