Thread: What razor is this?

I was given this razor from a friend, he found it in a fleamarket. I can't read what brand it is. It has a lot of honewear and the scales are made of copper on one side and the other is made of what I think is a zinkplate, I don't know. What do you think? Is it worth getting restored with new scales and honed? I have to send it to someone who knows what he's doing.

Without being able to read the tang marks beyond "celebrated razor", I'd guesstimate it to be a sheffield make. Sheffield razors are generally known to be great shavers. That one does need a bit of work tho. The honewear seem uneven, indicating improper honing, or worse. The nick in the toe also would take some honing. The good news is, that's a hefty piece of steel and there most likely is a great shaver somewhere inside it. Personally, I love old sheffields. I am unsure if it is worth having it restored tho, but if you can do it yourself it might provide a nice learning curve. If that is not an option, perhaps you could message some of the restorers on this board and inquire an estimate, that might give you a better idea what to do.

Best of luck!

joseph smith and sons, still actually in business as a scrap metaler now though...

touchdown was right, it is a Joseph Smith & Sons.... BUT, it looks like he inadvertently gave you the info for Joseph Rogers and Sons (understandable as there are SO many Jos. Rogers blades floating around out there you can't swat at a fly without hitting one... causing 'Rogers' to sort of get 'locked in your brain' when you see the name Joseph on an older razor).

From Goin's Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings:

Joseph Smith & Sons, Sheffield England
c1825-1953 Joseph Smith was located at 44 Coalpit Lane, Sheffield, England. Joseph Allen & Son, also of Sheffield, starting using their name in 1953.

Judging by the shape of the blade and tang, I'd estimate the Smith razor you there is from the mid-to-late 1800's (e.g. post-1850). Hard to say for sure though as it is possible that shape carried over into the early 1900's...

The specifics of the maker's mark on your blade are:
Joseph.Smith & Sons
Celebrated Razor
5415

...and the scales are not original. At some point a past owner re-scaled it with the metal pieces.

Will it make a nice shaver if its restored? Sure.

Is it worth the cost of a professional restoration? Depends on how much you want - and how much you're willing to spend - to shave with a piece of history.

Will you be able to turn right around and sell it for a profit after you get it restored. There's always a chance, but most likely no.

I think its worth restoring. I have one and its a great smooth shaver.

I have sent a request to Neil Miller at strop-shop if he can restore my razor. I know he makes good strops

Originally Posted by furir

I have sent a request to Neil Miller at strop-shop if he can restore my razor. I know he makes good strops

Mr Miller did make a awsome restore for me on a filly, I really recomend him

OOOPS! didnt even notice .. LOL

ill edit my post

Originally Posted by furir

I have sent a request to Neil Miller at strop-shop if he can restore my razor. I know he makes good strops

Furir,

I realize this post is almost a year old, now, but I just recently acquired my great grandfather's razor. It is similar to yours: Joseph Smith & Sons, Celebrated Razor, 3415. I was just wondering if you ever took the time to restore yours. If so, I would love to see the end result. I am thinking about having mine restored, also. I am very new to the forum, so I am in the process of researching and learning before I take the plunge into actually shaving. If I can figure out how to post pictures, I will post some of mine, soon. Thanks.

Originally Posted by richkev

Furir,

I realize this post is almost a year old, now, but I just recently acquired my great grandfather's razor. It is similar to yours: Joseph Smith & Sons, Celebrated Razor, 3415. I was just wondering if you ever took the time to restore yours. If so, I would love to see the end result. I am thinking about having mine restored, also. I am very new to the forum, so I am in the process of researching and learning before I take the plunge into actually shaving. If I can figure out how to post pictures, I will post some of mine, soon. Thanks.

Hi Richkev,

I never had it restored, Neil Miller told me if he should do it with new horn scales and all the job and effort it would be very expensive so I never sent it to him.