Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 13
  1. #1
    Senior Member Bazz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Victoria Australia
    Posts
    252
    Thanked: 48

    Question 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




  2. #2
    Senior Member basil's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    toronto
    Posts
    1,156
    Thanked: 406

    Default

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

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to basil For This Useful Post:

    Bazz (06-19-2010)

  4. #3
    Senior Member blabbermouth JimmyHAD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    32,564
    Thanked: 11042

    Default

    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.
    Be careful how you treat people on your way up, you may meet them again on your way back down.

  5. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to JimmyHAD For This Useful Post:

    Bazz (06-19-2010), Pops! (06-19-2010)

  6. #4
    Know thyself holli4pirating's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    New York
    Posts
    11,930
    Thanked: 2559

    Default

    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.

  7. The Following User Says Thank You to holli4pirating For This Useful Post:

    Bazz (06-19-2010)

  8. #5
    illegitimum non carborundum Utopian's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Rochester, MN
    Posts
    11,552
    Thanked: 3795
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    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.

  9. The Following User Says Thank You to Utopian For This Useful Post:

    Bazz (06-19-2010)

  10. #6
    Senior Member blabbermouth JimmyHAD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    32,564
    Thanked: 11042

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Utopian View Post
    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.
    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.
    Be careful how you treat people on your way up, you may meet them again on your way back down.

  11. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to JimmyHAD For This Useful Post:

    Bazz (06-19-2010), Utopian (06-18-2010)

  12. #7
    illegitimum non carborundum Utopian's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Rochester, MN
    Posts
    11,552
    Thanked: 3795
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by JimmyHAD View Post
    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.
    Thanks for the clarification. I don't recall how I came to my misunderstanding but I'll adjust my perception accordingly.

  13. The Following User Says Thank You to Utopian For This Useful Post:

    Bazz (06-19-2010)

  14. #8
    This is not my actual head. HNSB's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Middle of nowhere, Minnesota
    Posts
    4,623
    Thanked: 1371
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default

    From the wiki:
    Attached Images Attached Images  

    Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.

  15. The Following User Says Thank You to HNSB For This Useful Post:

    JimmyHAD (06-18-2010)

  16. #9
    Senior Member Bazz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Victoria Australia
    Posts
    252
    Thanked: 48

    Default

    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.
    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

    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.
    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

  17. #10
    Senior Member Bazz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Victoria Australia
    Posts
    252
    Thanked: 48

    Thumbs up

    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

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •