Thread: Please help Identify Straight

I just bought this from a antique store. It says wedge on the scales and the blade also it says The western Company St.Paul Minn. And to be specific on the scales its says western special wedge. I will post pictures I would apperiate all the information such as its worth,~ date of make, also quality.

Welcome to SRP. Looks to be a good razor. There was a Western States cutlery in Utah but I don't think that is what you have. We have a couple of members from the twin cities that may know what that 'Western' cutlery is. We don't assess values on SRP as it is against the user guidelines. Looks like if you sent it out for pro honing it would make a fine shaver though. Read my sig line below to avoid nicks and cuts and click the link for the SRP Wiki for everything you always wanted to know about straight razors. If you don't find it there post your questions.

The bolsters are very nice. The picture in your hand makes it look almost like a miniature.
Could you take a picture of it next to a ruler?
Also, a picture of the back side of the blade would be helpful.
The box says it was ground by Schwartz in St. Paul. It's possible that the blade was made elsewhere, and stamped "St. Paul" by the Schwartz company.
(of course that assumes that the box goes with the razor, often they are mis-matched)

Originally Posted by HNSB

The bolsters are very nice. The picture in your hand makes it look almost like a miniature.
Could you take a picture of it next to a ruler?
Also, a picture of the back side of the blade would be helpful.
The box says it was ground by Schwartz in St. Paul. It's possible that the blade was made elsewhere, and stamped "St. Paul" by the Schwartz company.
(of course that assumes that the box goes with the razor, often they are mis-matched)

I don't know the term blosters. And for the box the cap is marked WEDGE like the blade and scales the medal on the opposite of the tang has wedge on it as well. And the main part of the box is marked the western co. I didn't have much time to type my first post so I only discribed the razor sorry. I took more pics hope they help they are attached.

Your photos are a little blurry, but the scales of your razor look nearly identical to my Union Cutlery Co. "Special Spike". Your razor could have been produced by this company and stamped with the Western States logo for resale.

Regards - Walt

Bolsters are the metal caps on each end of the handles. We call the handles scales. Chances are that , as Walt says, it is the same company that made his razor but the St.Paul outfit had their brand stamped when they ordered it. A common practice back in those days. Union Cutlery was out of Olean, NY ..... still is .... and they were famous for the KA-Bar knives that were adopted as USMC issue in WWll. They made a darn good razor.

Originally Posted by Walt

Your photos are a little blurry, but the scales of your razor look nearly identical to my Union Cutlery Co. "Special Spike". Your razor could have been produced by this company and stamped with the Western States logo for resale.

Regards - Walt

If I was better with a camera I believe there would be no guessing we have the same razor because all my marking look the same even the color around the letters on the blosters. Walt can you tell me how old your straight razor is. Thank you Walt.

Originally Posted by SMCsaenz07

If I was better with a camera I believe there would be no guessing we have the same razor because all my marking look the same even the color around the letters on the bolsters. Walt can you tell me how old your straight razor is. Thank you Walt.

I'm afraid I can't give you an exact date for your razor. I purchased mine along with several others in a barber's razor box. Along with the razors and scissors were several barber's licenses, the most recent of which was 1954. It's only a guess, but I would think it was made sometime in the 1940s. Maybe the 1930s. If anyone has a more provable date, please chime in and set the record straight.

Regards - Walt

Hard to teel from the pictures. But Western States Cutlery was started in 1911 in Boulder Colorado. They later changed the name to Wetern Cutlery. The company was sold to Coleman in 1984 and then was sold to Camillus Cutlery in 1991. The Western and West-Cut trademarks ceased when Camillus shut down in 2007.
If it is indeed a Westren you have a good razor.

Tim

Does anyone know the measurement of the wedge?