Thread: Fine India Steel?

I found this tonight on the bay and was wondering if someone could give me some insight.

WADE & BUTCHER STRAIGHT RAZOR SHEFFIELD THE CELEBRATED - eBay (item 280610984490 end time Jan-09-11 11:18:26 PST)

(Item # 280610984490)

This item is a Wade & Butcher "Celebrated" blade. It clearly is marked Sheffield (England) but the etching on the blade reads Fine India Steel Razor. Why is this?

Regardless, it looks pretty nice, I was simply curious about the markings and hoped someone could explain it! Also, I apologize if this should be in the ebay forum, the question is related more to the razor than the fact that it's on ebay.

Best,

Ats200

Fine India Steel was not an uncommon marque among Sheffields of the era. Whether the steel was really accessed from India, or if their steel was 'better' is unknown to me. I hope someone more knowledgeable will chime in with more insight. I have a W&B like that one and at least one or maybe two from different Sheffield makers though. Good shavers but nothing magical about them IME.

You know, I'm not sure I've seen that etch/frost on a W&B with a barber's notch before.

But I agree with Jimmy, it's probably just a marketing thing.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

You know, I'm not sure I've seen that etch/frost on a W&B with a barber's notch before.

But I agree with Jimmy, it's probably just a marketing thing.

I just got one from my brother that has that frosting and etching but the blade is a spikey/square point.

Nice looking blade, but I haven't honed it up yet.

The marque probably refers back to the high quality Wootz steel known to the British through their Imperial adventures in India, though I highly doubt that they used real Indian steel in Sheffield razors, what with all that nice Sheffield Crucible steel laying around the W&B works.

Maybe, and i mean just maybe as I've only scratched the surface lightly, "FINE INDIA STEEL" has something to do with Queen Victoria's second title, "Empress of India" (1876-1901).

Monarcheal "politics" rather than metallurgy?

Someone stated that "V(crown)R" on the blade meant under Victoria's Rule, so I looked up that ol' gal Vickie.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_victoria

I have seen the fine indian steel on Razors of that era from Sheffield , some Wade and Butchers etc, but they all had makers marks.

Not sure what it all means, either. I just know I enjoy mine.

It's like India Pale Ale. Doesn't come from India at all.

2011 thread... zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Originally Posted by CrescentCityRazors

It's like India Pale Ale. Doesn't come from India at all.

That name comes from a style of beer that was shipped to India, so the name actually meant something. On razors, it's almost certainly nothing but marketing.