Thread: A fake Wade & Butcher?

Counterfeit pocket knives became a common occurrence in the 1970s when some of the Remington Bullets, Case Tested and what have you started bringing high dollars. I couldn't say on that one but if they were going to go to all that trouble it seems to me they would've went with a "For Barber's Use" to get the top dollar.

Its real, don't worry. If the scales are plastic it was rescaled. Often times the old horn scales were mouse eaten. probably someone else did all the hard restore work for you. Count yourself lucky.

it is real and you don't have to worry a lot. make handles and have fun

Thanks for reassuring me! Although, I'm still puzzled by the shoddy etching. How could it have crooked, rather than straight lines? Guess it's not stamped onto the blade... And how could it have been preserved so well? I have never seen one without at least some minor rust and/or pitting.. One the other hand, maybe someone ground everything out and then poorly retraced the etching and then black-inked it up... Who the heck knows, right? Well it's off to Max now for new scales and (further?) restoration!

Where is the crooked line? I can't see it from here...

One thing, though, I have to ask: Why do people keep thinking they have counterfeit razors? Who is the big mastermind making all of these fake razors (of all things...)? And how do you PROVE that a razor was faked, rather than just made by the guy at the factory having a bad day?

Originally Posted by JimR

One thing, though, I have to ask: Why do people keep thinking they have counterfeit razors? Who is the big mastermind making all of these fake razors (of all things...)? And how do you PROVE that a razor was faked, rather than just made by the guy at the factory having a bad day?

IDK where others are coming from, but I made a thread about a particular razor around a year ago.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...-fake-idk.html

It had a light stamp covered by another maker's mark and scales that looked like they were from yet another manufacturer.

It turned out to be a franken-razor of sorts, and it's still one of my favorites, but that's one explanation of a forum user crying "fake!".

Certainly genuine W&B, pre-1895 and rescaled - I've never seen one of this age with plastic original scales.

And again - why fake them? If you're going to do stuff like this fake 6th. C Samurai swords or something - worth a lot more money........

But I agree - I have NEVER seen a fake W&B or old Sheffield razor. The game just isn't worth the candle.

Originally Posted by JimR

Where is the crooked line? I can't see it from here...

One thing, though, I have to ask: Why do people keep thinking they have counterfeit razors? Who is the big mastermind making all of these fake razors (of all things...)? And how do you PROVE that a razor was faked, rather than just made by the guy at the factory having a bad day?

The etching is crooked in several places. I agree it's hard to tell from the pics. I have many razors and this is the first time I've ever questioned one's authenticity. Of course we know there's no mastermind out there. That said, if someone can have one made for $20 or less and sell it for 10X that amount, there's reason to do it. If that were the case, I guess there'd be more complaints like mine, as eBay would likely be flooded with fakes. Proving something is a fake is not always easy, but there could be tell-tale signs to the trained eye (which I am not, and which is why I sought input from SRP members on this topic). It could have been, as you point out, a bad day for the gal at the factory. Or it could be a shoddy restoration. Or it could be one huge conspiracy to bilk me out of my razor money! Or it could just be my imagination running wild. ;-)

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

… but if they were going to go to all that trouble it seems to me they would've went with a "For Barber's Use" to get the top dollar.

I think Jimmy's hit the nail on the head here. How does it shave? When you look at the kind of prices custom makers can command for producing fine shavers, why would someone of no mean talent fake a vintage (assuming it shaves as well as it looks etc)?

Originally Posted by AlanII

I think Jimmy's hit the nail on the head here. How does it shave? When you look at the kind of prices custom makers can command for producing fine shavers, why would someone of no mean talent fake a vintage (assuming it shaves as well as it looks etc)?

I haven't shaved with it yet. I'm sending it out to get honed and rescaled. I'll be curious what this experienced honemeister/restorer's observations are once he gets the razor in hand.