Thread: This old blade...

Hello, all!

I have a razor that was my Great Grand Fathers. I've been trying to figure out a age on it, and doing some research. I haven't been able to find one with the same markings as this one, and was curious if some of you could help me out. I know it's a George Wostenholm & Son, and I know it's what is referred to as a "Pipe". But, all of the one's I've seen have elaborate markings on the blade. This one is very simple.... I don't know if the blade has been re-ground and all the markings are gone, if it's a very "early" model, or if it's just a plain-jane "run of the mill" model from any old year. Here are a few pictures: Any help would be appreciated!







-Jake

Welcome to SRP. Wostenholme made them from their early days. I used to have a full sized stub tailed pipe and also a seven day set of stub tailed travel razors with the pipe logo. Regrettably I sold them on ebay a few years ago. I would bet yours is a later one. The etched blades were probably 1850s to 1870s and with horn scales (handles).

Yours is probably later and if it is stamped with England along with Sheffield would have been made after 1889 or maybe it was '91 when they started adding the country of origin. If there is no 'England' stamped on it that would make it a bit older.

If you intend to take up straight razor shaving check out the SRP Wiki beginner's guide and more here .

Thank you, Jimmy!

So, this would be considered a "stub tail"? And GW&S' earlier blades were etched and later stamped (lettering, pipe, etc)? Well, that makes since....

My Great Grandfather was born in 1901, so this might even be HIS father's razor. Great info so far.... We are working on our family tree, so pulling stuff out of boxes and looking through it is very interesting. It's nice to get some history on this stuff.

No stub tails have a very short 'monkey tail' (the part that extends past the scales) They are late 1700s early 1800s. Upon taking a closer look at your razor I see 'Sheffield Eng.' so it was made after 1889 when a treaty dictated that all cutlery be stamped with the country of origin. If it only had Sheffield stamped it would be older than that.

Ah, I see... So, after 1889. Did they start putting more print on the tang (is it called a "tang" on razors?) after a certain point in time? I've noticed most GW&S tangs have a bunch of stuff written on them. ie: "George Wostenheim & Son Celebrated I*XI... Original Pipe Razor... Washington Works... such-in-such, blah, and etc" Did all that come after a certain date in manufacture, or is it just a different (fancier?) model?

Thanks again for all the help!

-Jake

Dating razors isn't like dating other things. So far as I can tell, it's kinda narrowed down to a wide range of years based on the tail, stamps, etc.

You might be able to narrow it down to a 30+ yr period, but beyond that, it would probably be a guess.

Etching on the blade doesn't mean a thing, because I believe most of the razor companies put etchings on blades and also no etchings on the blades at any point in the time they were in business.

I wish I had a razor that a family member used. You are lucky Really, I wouldn't be too worried about the date and just enjoy using a razor that your grandfather or great grandfather go to use

Thanks, Rob! You're right.... I'm not sure I'm "man enough" to start using it tho. I'd probably look like hamburger after my attempt.

I have 2 the exact same as yours. They are among my best shavers. Send it out and get her honed and you'll have a nice shaver in your hands!