Just had to have it !!

I just purchased this straight of Ebay , I'd liked the look of it and it was a buy it now so I just hada jump on it :)
It was listed as Genuine 1850's-1860's , cow horn scales ..lead spacer .. NO makers marks whatsoever , hmmmm I hate to buy a dud... Ive done so before I brought an un marked vintage razor off the bay aswell , and I could nt hone for the life a me ... so Im hopin this aint the second time round .. any thoughts on the razor are appreciated ...Baz
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/6946/minew.jpg
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/8941/mine2j.jpg

i have no idea what it is but it sure does look pretty!

Bazz I wish you luck. It may be a good one. In my experience as a pocket knife collector one of the first things I was taught was to look askance at blades that didn't have a makers mark stamped on the tang. The thought being that if the maker didn't think enough of his work to put his name on it the blade couldn't be of a good quality. There are exceptions to every rule so after you have it honed up I hope it shaves well for you.

I was tempted too. I thought there were some reminants of a stamp on the front of the tang, but couldn't tell. Also, since the blade looks reground to me, it's possible the mark was there but removed.

The shape/style of the tail, tang, and shoulder is very unusual - maybe that was modified as well? Please let us know how this one shaves.

Given the length of the monkey tail, I doubt it's as old as claimed. I'm under the impression that razors of that era had short ones. I don't recall when the change occurred (1870-1880?) but hopefully someone will chime in to comment on it.

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Originally Posted by Utopian

Given the length of the monkey tail, I doubt it's as old as claimed. I'm under the impression that razors of that era had short ones. I don't recall when the change occurred (1870-1880?) but hopefully someone will chime in to comment on it.

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I just took a look in Robert Doyle's "Collecting Straight Razors" and I couldn't find a specific example. Going by his saying that the practice of stamping the initials of the sovereign adjacent to the maker's mark on the tang began in the 1820s it appears they were already over the stub tail era by the then. Certainly the meat choppers of the 1850s had normal monkey tails. So it is earlier than 1870 the way I read it.

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I just took a look in Robert Doyle's "Collecting Straight Razors" and I couldn't find a specific example. Going by his saying that the practice of stamping the initials of the sovereign adjacent to the maker's mark on the tang began in the 1820s it appears they were already over the stub tail era by the then. Certainly the meat choppers of the 1850s had normal monkey tails. So it is earlier than 1870 the way I read it.

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Thanks for the clarification. I don't recall how I came to my misunderstanding but I'll adjust my perception accordingly.

From the wiki:

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD
Bazz I wish you luck. It may be a good one. In my experience as a pocket knife collector one of the first things I was taught was to look askance at blades that didn't have a makers mark stamped on the tang. The thought being that if the maker didn't think enough of his work to put his name on it the blade couldn't be of a good quality. There are exceptions to every rule so after you have it honed up I hope it shaves well for you.

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thanks Jimmy , I was dubious on the razor having no markers mark but I sooo liked the curvy look of the tang and the overall appearance of the razor,for me it justified takin a chance and if Im lucky it will be the exception to the rule ..heres hoping ..Baz

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holli4pirating
I was tempted too. I thought there were some reminants of a stamp on the front of the tang, but couldn't tell. Also, since the blade looks reground to me, it's possible the mark was there but removed.

The shape/style of the tail, tang, and shoulder is very unusual - maybe that was modified as well? Please let us know how this one shaves.

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for sure I will , I probly wont recieve for 7-10 days but I will certainly update this thread hopefully it will take 2 the hone an shave well ..Baz

well I recieved the razor this morning , first impressions where good large beefy razor and nice ring when plucked ....blade is snug an closes centered the rest of condition exactly as pictured , some pitting one chip outta the scales a few flea bites to em , had a couple very tiny chips to the blade at the toe an about an inch back from , took the chips out honed the razor had no dramas honing it up to pass HHT , had a shave with it this evening 4pass cause I was lovin it :) got a bbs an not a nick on me , I m glad I took a chance on this one am very happy with it ....Bazz

It bears a striking resemblance to a W&B I have. And like yours, mine shaves like a charm. Congratulations on a great find.

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Originally Posted by HNSB

From the wiki:

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If thats true of ages - tail correlation, where do you place this?
Attachment 44606

Steve at the Invisible Edge who honed her up a while ago told me that its likely 1870s - early 1900s. Certainly no older. My best shaver in any account.

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Originally Posted by leadduck

It bears a striking resemblance to a W&B I have. And like yours, mine shaves like a charm. Congratulations on a great find.

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thanks leadduck , any chance of ya posting a pic of your W&B as I'd love to lay eyes on it ...Bazz