Greaves Stub Tail

I basically stole this razor off of eBay over the weekend. I'm really happy with the buy but there are some fall-backs, the broken scale, some oxidation on the bevel, and some spine wear.

Please help me with placing a correct range of years for this one. I've read that using 'W.' instead of 'William' indicates that it may be ~1845 but the tail makes me think earlier, in the 1816-1835 range.

I'll eventually get around to having this honed and possibly rescaled. In some way I like the cracked scale but my OCD says it's annoying.

Let me know what ya think! I always like to see stub tails being shared so I decided to post my one and only.

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That is a SWEET find. that's hardly any wear, given the age and grind, and the oxidation on the bevel will come right off with honing. If she were mine, I'd try to stabilize the crack and keep the scales, but your call.

That crack would be easy to fix--- I would definitely NOT rescale an old beauty like that!

I definitely want to keep the scales; considering the age, they're in great condition other than the pesky crack. I've wanted a stub tail from the beginning and this came up with a BIN option and I didn't think twice.

Edit: It came with the original coffin too. 'Greaves and Sons' is still faintly visible.

Yeah, I would have been on that thing like flies on a Gold Dollar! ;)

Since the crack is in the wedge end you're alright. I would also keep the scales and just hit the blade with some semi-chrome or flitz on a paper towel. Nice razor you've got there.

According the tail and the handle/pins, the razor was made approximately 1820 -1830's.
Nice old razor. Congrats.:)

Lovely razor you got there, congrats. I love old sheffields and that one is a beauty. Like the others, I'd try to get the scales stabilized. They are probably horn so it should not be impossible? Good luck.

I'm with everyone else, keep the scales for as long as you can. You can always replace them but you only be able to restore it back to this state. Enjoy your fine razor.

I did a once over with some polish on the blade and used a toothpick to clean the old crud out of the jimps and pins. This razor is a beauty, I'll definitely have to show it off again once I get it fully cleaned and in working order.