W&B Barbers vs. Normal

[Frankenstein]

Hi All,

Just wondering whether there is any actual structural difference between a Wade and Butcher 'For Barbers' use' and a normal one of similar size.

And would anyone say they perform differently?

Cheers,

[JimmyHAD]

According the "Collecting Straight Razors" by Robert Doyle the really large 'meat choppers' came into prominence in the 1820s and were popular into the 1830s. Whether barbers really favored them is something I've often wondered.

One way or the other they are a big wedge and I've seen various other 8/8 and up wedges that were marked differently but were fundamentally the same in size and shape. Doyle says that by the 1860s the hollow ground started to dominate the market and by 1885 the full hollow was perfected and the wedge lost much of it's market share.

We love them nowadays and whether they are stamped for barbers or not they are cool to have and fun to shave with. Not fun to hone though.

[holli4pirating]

Blades that say "For Barber's Use" were only sold to barbers, and it was and still is illegal for anyone other than a barber to own such a razor. I can arrange to hold all "For Barber's Use" in a saftey deposit box I had opened with my forged "barber" credintals in order to avoid the confiscation of your razors. Please contact me via PM, and we can set things up.

[goshawk]

Hi All,

Just wondering whether there is any actual structural difference between a Wade and Butcher 'For Barbers' use' and a normal one of similar size.

And would anyone say they perform differently?

Cheers,

I've got two W&B 7/8ths extra hollow ground razors, identical in every way except that one is marked "For Barber's Use". The shave, like the appearance of the razors, is virtually identical.

[mackie]

LOL You really are a pirate !

[ndw76]

Blades that say "For Barber's Use" were only sold to barbers, and it was and still is illegal for anyone other than a barber to own such a razor. I can arrange to hold all "For Barber's Use" in a saftey deposit box I had opened with my forged "barber" credintals in order to avoid the confiscation of your razors. Please contact me via PM, and we can set things up.

That law has no jurisdiction here in Thailand. If you send me your For Barber's Use razor I will hold it for you.