JOhn Barber razor update!
Hi All, I have now sent this razor off for hopefully a sympathetic refurbishment. The firm I chose was the Invisible Edge and they received it last Friday. Steve Dempster has sent me the following technical description.
The blade is a 6/8 full-swept square point with slight point extension, in swage cross-section and with pronounced blade shouldering and a small grob to the nose. It is in the shoulderless style and has been quarter-hollow ground to about Henckel Scale 2. The tang is unusually deep with a correspondingly small heel drop and there is no shouldering or stabilisers at the blade to tang junction. The blade is by John Barber, Sheffield England, unusually stamped on the front side blade shoulder and with trademark square and compass tang strike. The blade has a small trigger, entirely in keeping with its age and I would assess this as between 1815 – 1824. John Barber was trading from 1810 – 1834 when the firm became John Barber and Son, finally ceasing trade in 1852.
The blade has been fitted with a type of ivory scales – from which source is unclear but these are nicely striated and are fitted with a period lead spacer.
In a moment of enthusiam I also sent another razor I have. Steve has identified it as a travelling razor from around 1880.
The scales are now off and still in one piece!
I shall post post restoration pictures. I may even shave with it. I am the 7th generation that this razor has passed through so this will be a humbling moment.