Thread: wade and butcher question..

I apologize in advance if I'm making a request that has been made several times beore. it's just so overwhelming to wade through the pages and pages of posts that come up in the 'wade butcher' search..haha..

I'm just wanting to know if anyone has any info on how to identify and 'date' a wade and butcher straight. I picked one up at an antique mall over the weekend and it's pure curiosity on the age.

it's a beaut, by the way. there was a series of very small chips in the blade that caused me to take it down to a 6/8 (actually just a little over at 0.775"). but over all it's in great shape and, man, is it hefty - it makes my shumate's barber feel like a toy!

anyways, I'm not under some delusion that I've got a piece from american civil-war era WB, like I said, just curious.

I can post up a shot of the only marking later tonight if someone thinks that'll help.

thanks!

The picture will help.

Yes, the pictures will be helpful.

Pics attached...scales are, indeed, horn by the way and the thing is over a quarter of an inch thick where the stamp is..which is the only mark on it.

thanks in advance!

Treaty of Madrid can give you a good guess to start with. As I understand it Pre-1891 products wont have a country of origin, post 1891 will.

Edit: Also the tail style chart from the SRP wiki: The straight razor - Straight Razor Place Wiki

I'm sure someone who knows and isn't just guessing will be along soon.

I could be wrong, but I am 90% sure those scales are not horn. They look like a synthetic to me, and what appears to be oxidization near the pivot makes me think it all the more.

I'd go with late 1800's since it's a hollow grind and the handles appear to be celluloid. More specifically 1870's or 80's if I had to pick.

Based on the stamp and the thickness, I would guess a later-1800's razor ground from an older, more chopper-like blank.

Yes, the razor was made approximately 1870 - 1891.
Hollow ground razors since 1870.
Madrid Agreement in 1891.

That ought to hone up to be a good shaver. I agree with holli4 that the scales look to be a synthetic. The pivot end reminds me of my Vulcanite pipe stems on the bit end where they get that oxidation. OTOH it could be some coloring in a natural horn. One way or the other it is in pretty good shape for it's age.