Thread: Info Request for Mother-of-Pearl razor!

I agree completely with John. I've only seem carved MOP scales like that in pictures in books and online, but nothing that incredibly intricate and nice. Usually, they're also broken, chipped, or discolored. Really beautiful, thanks for sharing the photos.

Looking at similar blade and tang shapes in Ritchie and Stewart's "Standard Guide to Razors" 3rd ed, it looks very similar to a Joseph Rodgers razor on the bottom of page 65 made between 1830 - 1840. Rodgers certainly did work of this quality level, so it may be a Joseph Rodgers.

In the same book, a chart on page 73 states that the "Silver Steel" mark started around 1820. Ornate blade etching started around 1830. Patriotic themes started around 1820. Carved handles started around 1820. Manufacturer's markings started around 1830.

Making a leap and bracketing these indicators listed in the book (I'm no expert, this book is my only printed dating reference), probably late 1820s - early 1830s? The tail isn't a "stub" like the early 1800's, or absent like in the late 1700s. But it isn't as long as the razors I do have from the 1840s-50s.