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W&B Boxer Rebellion Razor
Gentleman,
I picked up my first Wade & Butcher off the Bay last week. It is a 7/8 and has an interesting history. According to the vendor this razor was made shortly after 1900 as a political commemorative to the British involvement in the Boxer Rebellion.
As history shows Britain entered the fray after Chinese forces employed by the Empress Dowager (the Brits called them boxers but actually they practiced Chinese martial arts) declared war on all foreigners. The Righteous Harmony Society Movement (as the Chinese called the war) soldiers cornered dignitaries, diplomats, foreign civilians and Chinese Christians in the Legation Quarter of Beijing and threatened to slaughter them. The foreigners held out for 55 days until an eight nation alliance of 20,000 troops arrived to quell the uprising and rescue the besieged Quarter residents. But before the end of the conflict Chinese washu (kung fu) warriors had killed hundreds of Protestant converts and 18,000 Catholic converts.
The razor is in very good condition with a repaired chip in the translucent handle. It has inscriptions on both sides of the blade that are deeply engraved. This razor is not politically correct today but certainly shows a piece of a bygone era and a historical event in British history. Does anyone have any information on this razor and does it hold any special collector's value?
Thanks for your comments and any information.
Denny
300WSM:gwh: