Thread: Dating a C-Mon Blackie

Hi all,

I picked up a C-Mon Blackie recently in a thrift shop and am trying to date its manufacture. As you can see from the pics, it's marked Carl Monkhouse Ellicottville NY on the back of the tang, however the C-Mon Blackie mark on the front of the tang is distinct from all other markings of Blackies that I've been able view online. Any information or theories you might have regarding the date of this razor would be most appreciated.

GOINS' has a guess of 1950-55

Carl Monkhouse had razors made that were imported to the USA from Solingen by Peter J. Michaels. IIRC that changed after the war (WWII) when he moved to Ellicottville. I believe they still make the Blackie but I'm not sure.

Dont know about the date,but i do know they hone up easy and take a wicked edge and are smoooooth shavers, cuz i have that same razor and love it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for providing the scholarship, RedRover. I suspected as much (early fifties) judging from the style of the font, plus having heard that Monkhouse came to the US slightly before then.

got to agree with you there Nessmuck, it honed up devilishly keen, and appears to be a real precision cutter...

Yep, they are great shavers...

I just picked up the same razor for 21.50 off ebay. It is a little more weathered than yours, but I am glad to hear it is a good shaver.

This one is a bit more special, Note the "Hand-Made" stamp..

There were Blackies only, then the "Hand-Made" versions I think, but am not sure because I haven't looked at a large enough sample, that the HM versions are bit more hollow...

There was also a HF or Hand Forged razor also...

Peter J Michaels still import the Blackies... they are currently being made by Dovo