Thread: Any info on this one? Military?

I bought this in an antique store the other day. William Revitt, no place name but I'm assuming Sheffield.
I've been wondering about the paint on the scales, and it just hit me after almost a week. (I'm a bit slow sometimes)

That is probably khaki paint and the razor was probably military used. Maybe the Boer war? I guess that date would closer match the razor than WW1. What do you think?

Any info on this razor? I tried my Google Foo and found my powers were weak.

I did find this;


Revitt, William (, merchant and manufacturer of Damascus steel razors; pen, pocket and table k).
Residing at 6 Meadow Street, in 1833.
Recorded in: Whites History & Directory of Sheffield - 1833.


Which puts the business earlier than the Boer War, but I wonder how long he was in business for?

It has a really interesting looking shoulder/tang on it, very unique looking, but I cant dig up any further info on it for ya.

Here's an old thread where one of my posts has a link to a file with sheffield cutlers in the early 1800s. Also there's a link in there to my own oldie revitt.

what's the scale material, horn? it looks more like an old chipped off paint rather than bdu, i guess somebody just liked it painted

Originally Posted by gugi

what's the scale material, horn? it looks more like an old chipped off paint rather than bdu, i guess somebody just liked it painted

I think it's horn. Maybe wood.

Back in those days most of your personal stuff was not issued, it was bought. Then you painted it or whatever was required. I don't think it was issued but someone might have taken it with them on campaign.

Maybe...

I found another reference to the manufacturer in Genuki: William Revitt was in business selling razors as late as 1852, same address.

A DIRECTORY OF THE BOROUGH
AND PARISH OF SHEFFIELD, 1852
Letters P and S



Revitt William razor and tableknife manufacturer, 89 Edward street

Where do you guys find this info? I just happened to glance at the thread, and can't help but to be fascinated at how something this old can be traced back to a manufacturer, business address, home address and time... It really gets my imagination going as to what things might have been like.

As a side note , the razor looks great!!! I really like the patina and blade shape. Hope you can remove the paint without damaging the scales....

BTW, Happy St Patricks Day!!

Sometimes the Genuki Directory has the only information. There are a variety of sources of historical information out there, but you have to be a patient searcher. You can Google the pages below to search them, these are not direct links.

<LI class=g>
GENUKI: Sheffield Directory of Trades and Professions for 1829

genuki.org.uk Directory of Trades and Professions for the year of 1829, for the parish of Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England.
www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/.../Sheffield/Sheffield29Dry.html - Cached - Similar

<LI class=g>
GENUKI: Sheffield

genuki.org.uk 1787 Gales & Martin Directory of Sheffield; 1791 Universal British Directory ... 1833 White's History & Directory of Sheffield; 1841 Pigot's National & ...
genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/WRY/Sheffield/index.html - Cached

<LI class=g>
GENUKI: Sheffield Directory of Trades and Professions for 1822

genuki.org.uk Directory of Trades and Professions for the year of 1822, for the parish of Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England.
genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/WRY/Sheffield/Sheffield22Dry.html - Cached

<LI class=g>
GENUKI: Sheffield Directory of Trades and Professions for 1834

genuki.org.uk Directory of Trades and Professions for the year of 1834, for the parish of Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England.
www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/.../Sheffield/Sheffield34Dry.html - Cached - Similar

<LI class=g>
GENUKI: Sheffield Directory, 1852, letters A and B

genuki.org.uk A DIRECTORY OF THE BOROUGH AND PARISH OF SHEFFIELD, 1852. Letters A and B. Abbot William, clerk, and Elizabeth, milliner, 18 Wicker; Abbot John, etcher, ...
www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/.../Sheffield1852AlphaA-B.html - Cached - Similar

<LI class=g>
GENUKI: Sheffield Directory, 1852, letters K to O

genuki.org.uk A DIRECTORY OF THE BOROUGH AND PARISH OF SHEFFIELD, 1852. Letters K and O. Kalb George comb presser & cutter, Furnival lane; house: 116 Matilda street ...
www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/.../Sheffield1852AlphaK-O.html - Cached - Similar

<LI class=g>
GENUKI: Sheffield Directory, 1852, letters T to Z

genuki.org.uk A DIRECTORY OF THE BOROUGH AND PARISH OF SHEFFIELD, 1852. Letters T and Z. Tagg Charles springknife manufacturer, yard: 94 Wellington street; ...
www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/.../Sheffield1852AlphaT-Z.html - Cached - Similar

<LI class=g>
GENUKI: Sheffield Directory, 1852, letters C to F

genuki.org.uk Sheffield Directory, 1852, letters C to F. A DIRECTORY OF THE BOROUGH AND PARISH OF SHEFFIELD, 1852. Letters C and F. Cade Robert, tailor, 167 Portobello ...
www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/.../Sheffield1852AlphaC-F.html - Cached - Similar

That is an AWESOME razor. I have two Revitts that were probably identical back in the day, but have been reground differently. I love how they shave, enough to stay on the lookout for more.