Thread: Colonial razor? Earlier Chinese? Fake?

I recognized the design from a razor book, which IDs it as "possibly Chinese in origin" from the 1700s or earlier. However, web references suggest this type of razor may be Colonial.

Oh yeah, and the pin looks like a square nail, if that helps date it.

Originally Posted by QuinnFlint

So, three questions: (A) can anybody help narrow down the period/region? (B) in the close-ups: are these markings or corrosion? (C) If this is from the 1700s or earlier, what type of metal is it likely to be, and how should I proceed to clean it up?

A) period: September 17, 2009 about 3:12PM
region: Halfway between Chengdu and Deyang on the eastern slope of a small hill

B) Both markings and corrosion. The markings translate to Genuine Original George Washington eBay Razor

C) It is a proprietary titanium alloy known only to two Buddhist monks who own and operate the Zeepk and Krieger razor companies. Each of them only knows half of the formula in order to prevent either from attaining total world domination. (You just can't trust a Buddhist monk.)
You should not attempt to clean such a valuable antique. The natural patina, that was attained through weeks of exposure to wet dirt, represents a large part of the value of that razor. The rust is the most valuable part of that razor.

Ouch. Yeah, just found the previous threads (I promise--I did search for previous threads before posting, just didn't put in the right keywords). So, chalk up another naive post to my growing body of asinine SRP behavior. At least I paid what it's worth--about 5 bucks.

Thanks for the reply. Harsh, but thanks.

As Utopian said, it's fake, and it's mostly junk... However they do make some really fun throwing knives!

I'm sorry, maybe that was too harsh. I started another thread about these razors a couple years ago.

I have no doubt that such razors did and do exist. I'm no expert and perhaps yours may be one of the genuine ones, but the number of them that show up on eBay and flea markets makes it clear that some people are banging out a lot of fakes.

Originally Posted by Utopian

I'm sorry, maybe that was too harsh. I started another thread about these razors a couple years ago.

I have no doubt that such razors did and do exist. I'm no expert and perhaps yours may be one of the genuine ones, but the number of them that show up on eBay and flea markets makes it clear that some people are banging out a lot of fakes.

That was one fun thread!

No worries: harsh, but also kind of hilarious...and certainly well-earned. I'm sure it won't deter me from future ridiculousness!

There was one in a large lot I won on Ebite, it's a rough joke of a copy if I ever saw one. It's currently weighing down a junk box...

I had a friend who kept a plaque in his office that read "No man is a complete failure, he can always serve as a bad example for others."

Quinnflint, in that spirit, would you please put back at least one of your razor photos?

Unless you spent a lot of time looking at razors on eBay , there was no way that you would have any reason to believe that razor was a fake. Yours may be one of the real ones for all I know. Real or otherwise, the forum is better off with your photo and your presence, so I hope both will return soon.