Wade & Butcher Masonic - Info Please

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10-19-2010, 09:45 PM
leadingedge

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Wade & Butcher Masonic - Info Please

I just got hold of this beautiful razor.

Can anybody shed some light on it, like how old it might be, or any other info please?

Any info will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Attachment 50529

Attachment 50530

Attachment 50531

Attachment 50532
10-20-2010, 01:23 AM
rkelmy

That is a beautiful shaver. As a brother of the Masonic fraternity I would love to aquire a piece like this in my lifetime. I wish I could help you out with some history on this beauty but I'm new to the fraternity of str8 razor shaving. I can vouch that the symbols are authentic. Thanks for sharing.
10-20-2010, 01:39 AM
Alembic

I bid on this and bailed. I'm glad to see one of our SRP members got it.
10-20-2010, 01:40 AM
manah

Here some threads about razors with Masonic etching.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...-pictures.html
http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...e-butcher.html
I hope, they will be helpful.
10-20-2010, 01:51 AM
LawsonStone

Rightly interpreted, the symbols on this blade will lead you to the location of the Holy Grail…

Quote:

Originally Posted by leadingedge

I just got hold of this beautiful razor.

Can anybody shed some light on it, like how old it might be, or any other info please?

Any info will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Attachment 50529

Attachment 50530

Attachment 50531

Attachment 50532
10-20-2010, 02:45 AM
Wintchase

If I remember correctly the trowel, angle, and compass are the tools of a Master Mason...3rd degree. There is a long and tedious process in becoming a Maste Mason. there are three degrees, and all of the initiation is memorization handed down from mentor to craftsman until the aspiring mason can go through the ceremony on his own accord. Now saying that, it is a wonderful thing to become a mason and be part of a brotherhood whose intent is to do nothing more than make the community in which they live, a better one. They do this with no expectations of gratitiude, in fact it is quite the opposite in some communities.....But still they trudge ahead and go out and make differences to people around the world..If you would like to see an example, take a look at the Shriners.....They fund the Shriner Hositals for children all over the US and specialize in burn victums...Those Shriners are Masons (33nd degree)......Guys who want to make a difference, but do not want to blow their own horn or bring attention to themselves when the attention should be on the children....Real honorable if you ask me..
10-20-2010, 09:42 AM
leadingedge

Quote:

Originally Posted by manah

Here some threads about razors with Masonic etching.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...-pictures.html
http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...e-butcher.html
I hope, they will be helpful.

Thanks Alex!

Of what I can tell, it dates around the mid 1800's? It only states "Sheffield", and not "England", so it must be around then.

I'm not sure about the Wade & Butcher branding on it, do you have any idea how to figure out the date from the branding Alex?

Thanks!
10-20-2010, 09:45 AM
leadingedge

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alembic

I bid on this and bailed. I'm glad to see one of our SRP members got it.

Yea, I did not want to let this beauty get away from me. Better one of us than somebody who wants to use it as a breadknife! LOL

Thanks for bailing out, it gave me the chance to win it.. I was willing to go a lot higher on the bidding, but you saved me a lot of $$ by bailing.
10-20-2010, 10:03 AM
manah

Quote:

Originally Posted by leadingedge

Thanks Alex!

Of what I can tell, it dates around the mid 1800's? It only states "Sheffield", and not "England", so it must be around then.

I'm not sure about the Wade & Butcher branding on it, do you have any idea how to figure out the date from the branding Alex?

Thanks!

Such razors have date about 1840-1850.
10-20-2010, 12:13 PM
nipper

I bailed on this also this time. I hope to acquire one in the future. thanks for sharing the pics
10-20-2010, 07:16 PM
leadingedge

Quote:

Originally Posted by manah

Such razors have date about 1840-1850.

Thanks a lot for the information Alex, as always, your knowledge is of great benefit to us all.
10-20-2010, 08:08 PM
BladeRunner001

My my...that is one beautiful blade. Love the patterns and the etching. Quite a work of art. Great score :)
10-22-2010, 05:32 PM
Bayamontate

Quote:

Originally Posted by manah

Such razors have date about 1840-1850.

I second Manah, Somewhere in the Lummus literature it says the Masonic etching thing was in vogue circa 1845.
10-22-2010, 09:40 PM
leadingedge

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bayamontate

I second Manah, Somewhere in the Lummus literature it says the Masonic etching thing was in vogue circa 1845.

That sounds about right, taking into account that the "England" on the Sheffield blades was only added in the second half of the 1800's.
10-22-2010, 09:50 PM
Magpie

I was going to bid on that, but I thought for sure an actual Mason would want it, and it belongs more in their hands than in mine.

I do collect some mason items, but I treat them with respect, and often find homes for them with other masons later on.
10-22-2010, 10:01 PM
leadingedge

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magpie

I was going to bid on that, but I thought for sure an actual Mason would want it, and it belongs more in their hands than in mine.

I do collect some mason items, but I treat them with respect, and often find homes for them with other masons later on.

True Magpie, I'm kind of thinking along the same lines.

I will hold on to this one for quite a while, and hopefully I can pass it on to someone who deserves it in the future. Better one of us have it for now than someone who will neglect it.
10-22-2010, 11:17 PM
Bayamontate

Quote:

Originally Posted by leadingedge

That sounds about right, taking into account that the "England" on the Sheffield blades was only added in the second half of the 1800's.

The "England" thing was added sometime in 1891.

Lummus gets into it in page 265 in his December, 1922 article and again in the More Old Razors May, 1927 article pages 372-373.
10-23-2010, 08:40 AM
leadingedge

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bayamontate

The "England" thing was added sometime in 1891.

Lummus gets into it in page 265 in his December, 1922 article and again in the More Old Razors May, 1927 article pages 372-373.

Great info, thanks a lot!
11-25-2012, 12:39 PM
gardener55

I just acquired this particular straightrazor. My handle has some chips out of edges and I cannot tell if the handle is really old wood or bakelite. The blade is in good condition with just a few tiny rust spots. The acid etching is beautiful. Thank you to Wintchase for the historical review of what the symbols stand for. As of today I have been unable to establish a value. Will post picutres of my new baby when I can figure out how to do so.

Stay Sharp
11-25-2012, 04:49 PM
Wullie

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wintchase

If I remember correctly the trowel, angle, and compass are the tools of a Master Mason...3rd degree. There is a long and tedious process in becoming a Maste Mason. there are three degrees, and all of the initiation is memorization handed down from mentor to craftsman until the aspiring mason can go through the ceremony on his own accord. Now saying that, it is a wonderful thing to become a mason and be part of a brotherhood whose intent is to do nothing more than make the community in which they live, a better one. They do this with no expectations of gratitiude, in fact it is quite the opposite in some communities.....But still they trudge ahead and go out and make differences to people around the world..If you would like to see an example, take a look at the Shriners.....They fund the Shriner Hositals for children all over the US and specialize in burn victums...Those Shriners are Masons (33nd degree)......Guys who want to make a difference, but do not want to blow their own horn or bring attention to themselves when the attention should be on the children....Real honorable if you ask me..

Pretty much spot on, except that Shriners aren't necessarily 33rd Degree mason. The 33rd Degree is an honorary degree given to Scottish Rite Masons. The Shrine is another "branch" of Masonic endeavor separate from the Scottish Rite. ALL Scottish Rite Masons and Shriners must be a Master Mason in a Blue Lodge which is the foundation of the organization.

Both the Scottish Rite and The Shriners sponsor hospitals for children. Children in need are treated at no charge. The parents do not need to be Masons. All that is required is that a child needs to be treated and if the hospitals have the capability to treat the child, they will.

The round looking thing with a handle is known as a setting maul. It is a tool used in operative masonry.
Setting Maul
11-25-2012, 06:05 PM
Magpie

Quote:

Originally Posted by gardener55

I just acquired this particular straightrazor. My handle has some chips out of edges and I cannot tell if the handle is really old wood or bakelite.

Stay Sharp

most likely it is old HORN, that has simply dried out. A soak in Neatsfoot oil will not hurt bakelite, and will be of benifit to horn. I have no clue what it might do to wood. If you want to see how nice old horn can turn out, look for some of the restoration work done by Brad (undream)
11-25-2012, 06:55 PM
sharptonn

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wintchase

If I remember correctly the trowel, angle, and compass are the tools of a Master Mason...3rd degree. There is a long and tedious process in becoming a Maste Mason. there are three degrees, and all of the initiation is memorization handed down from mentor to craftsman until the aspiring mason can go through the ceremony on his own accord. Now saying that, it is a wonderful thing to become a mason and be part of a brotherhood whose intent is to do nothing more than make the community in which they live, a better one. They do this with no expectations of gratitiude, in fact it is quite the opposite in some communities.....But still they trudge ahead and go out and make differences to people around the world..If you would like to see an example, take a look at the Shriners.....They fund the Shriner Hositals for children all over the US and specialize in burn victums...Those Shriners are Masons (33nd degree)......Guys who want to make a difference, but do not want to blow their own horn or bring attention to themselves when the attention should be on the children....Real honorable if you ask me..

Indeed, I am an example of this. I was born with a hip out of an undeveloped socket and limped badly. As I was 3, the Shriners put me in a cast from the waist down and monitored my progress for a year. The socket developed, the cast came off, and I was the fastest little bugger on the playground. I always pony up and thank them as I can. Good men! :tu