Thread: Is there any way to ID this razor?

I picked this razor up today while out running errands. I picked up a couple other goodies (not straight razors) along with it. I'd seen it before and hemmed and hawed over it. No idea what it is or if it's worth a dime as a shaver, hence my posting it here. Can you guys help me out?

I hope you guys can give me some info, and it does turn out to be a good shaver...it would be my first and only round point razor (all my others are square points).

P.S. The big spot of discoloration on the front is from a price sticker.

Hi Jim

From what I can tell, mind you I'm not wearing my glasses, but it appears to be a razor made by "Sterling." Don't mean to be a smarta$$. Honestly, I would use some MAAS on it, attach some scales, and give it a few laps on a hone, then shave test it. Only you can be the judge on whether you have found a sleeper of a great shaver or just an awesome letter opener. I too found an unkown razor at an antique shop, couldn't find much info on it, but it turned out to be a great and smooth shaver.

Originally Posted by ReardenSteel

Hi Jim

From what I can tell, mind you I'm not wearing my glasses, but it appears to be a razor made by "Sterling." Don't mean to be a smarta$$. Honestly, I would use some MAAS on it, attach some scales, and give it a few laps on a hone, then shave test it. Only you can be the judge on whether you have found a sleeper of a great shaver or just an awesome letter opener. I too found an unkown razor at an antique shop, couldn't find much info on it, but it turned out to be a great and smooth shaver.

BWAHAHA You're funny! Heheheh.

No I completely understand. The lady at the antique store said "I think it's silver." I had to stifle a chuckle. No, I said, I don't think silver would hold a good edge. I think it's stainless, made by somebody named Sterling. "Well, I suppose that's probably right." She replied.

Just wondered if anybody'd ever heard of Sterling razors or knew anything about them. Are they Sheffield steel? I do plan on polishing her up and seeing if I can hone her, and then going from there. It'll be a bit before I can 1) Make scales, and 2) Have the requisite experience to really tell if it's a good shaver, but that's the adventure part.

Still would love to know if anybody's familiar with Sterling razors.

Thanks,

I should have snapped some pics of the blade after I did some clean up on it. It was looking pretty good with very little work. BUT, it'd definitly NOT stainless. I did some honing on it over the last two nights and gave it a shot on my cheeks tonight. I had to finish with a DE and in the time it took to finish up the blade became stained and spotted and brown. The brown wiped off with a cloth, but the stains underneath it stayed. >

FWIW

I recently picked up a razor made by a company called Sterling Razor Works... Mine has more of a logo on it that may help with identification:

Jim, a bit info about your "Sterling" razor.
This brand from Australia, 1940s.

Originally Posted by BigJim

BWAHAHA You're funny! Heheheh.

No I completely understand. The lady at the antique store said "I think it's silver." I had to stifle a chuckle. No, I said, I don't think silver would hold a good edge. I think it's stainless, made by somebody named Sterling. "Well, I suppose that's probably right." She replied.

Pretty crap stainless by the looks of it.

I found this link, take a look at the box. Looks American to me.

VTG Antique "STERLING" Straight Razor Sterling Co. in the Box | eBay

One more company plus, the stamp "sterling" was used by Sterling Cutlery Co., New York. The owners of this trademark were Mcllwaine, Linn & Hughes, 1896-1914.

Twisted Oak: Thanks for reviving this thread. I never did find any more info on this blade. Though it looks like yours was possibly by a different manufacturer. Different font, Maker's Mark, etc.

Kees: That Sterling Razor I pictured was just pulled from an old shoe box under a counter in an antique shop. It was buried for untold years with kitchen knives and old curling irons. And even stainless will rust given time. Cleaned up pretty well, but I never have gotten around to getting scales on it. It looks like that upay razor has the same font stamp on the tang...if it IS in fact from Baltimore, that makes me more excited as every US blade razor I've used has been a great shaver.

Manah: Thanks for your input. If I understand your posts; it's either an Aussie blade, or a New York blade. Add in Kees' link and it could also be a Maryland blade.

The variety of makes and makers just astounds me when it comes to razors. Can you imagine having a sustained industry with as many automakers as razor makers?

Peace,
Jim

I just got a razor made by Sterling Company, Baltimore, MD, from eBay last week. The blade looks exactly like yours, only mine was complete with a worn box (hence the name) and intact scales. Spent an hour cleaning, polishing and honing this weekend. After it's resurrection shave yesterday I can confirm it is a very nice shaver. Well worth putting scales on yours, if you still have it. Your post was kind of old, but I haven't been able to find much about Sterling Razors. I'll post some pics later.