Thread: Symbols etched in Heiffor blades?

Originally Posted by medicevans

Heiffor was a Scottish blade maker. Everything I've seen from him was marked with these markings. I think they are Celtic. Here's what I think they are from left to right:

1. d which makes the dhay sound or a lenited d which makes the dh sound
2. o which makes the oh sound
3. m which makes the emm sound
4. d which makes the dhay sound
5. i which makes the ee sound
6. I think either t which makes the thay sound, or a lenited t which makes the th sound.

Was he Scottish? I can't find any history/genealogy for the surname. I'm also not sure that the mark means anything at all - the script part of it can mostly be made with the number "6" stamped at various angles.

Regards,
Neil

John Heiffor lived in Sheffield at 51 Scotland Street, and was listed as a razor manufacturer. Source; 1822 Sheffield directory. See many other famous razor manufacturers listed too...No idea what the symbols mean. Checked various runic alphabets but came up empty.
Here is the link:
History, directory & gazeteer, of ... - Google Books

Thanks Croaker. I already knew about the different premises the company worked from (including Belfield Street, Scotland Street and Paradise Square) and Thomas Heiffor and the James Hill / John Hill debate that says that one or the other was the same person as John Heiffor, although James Hill is listed in Baines directory as a penknife-maker in 1822 at 2 Old Street and John Hill is listed for the same year at 3 Old Street. They were in all likelihood related to each other. James Hill is recorded as having moved to Broad Street in 1834 according to Pigots directory.

Heiffor's first listing in Scotland Street comes from 1815 and 1820: he is recorded as making razors and working as a perfumer and hairdresser. In the late 1830s he is concentrating on razors and has moved to Workhouse Croft, now known as Paradise Street. Although John Heiffor died in June 1849, the business moved to Paradise Square with Thomas Heiffor (John Heiffor's son) leading the business. The business now produces cutlery and sells its famous "Army" razors for one shilling each in the 1850s. Thomas Heiffor died in 1866 - and the confusion about John Heiffor and James Hill is now cleared-up: James Hill becomes the senior partner in the business. Conveniently, one of John Heiffor's corporate marks was "*J.H.*" - same initials, so no change necessary!

Perhaps the gaelic idea is wrongly attributed to Scotland Street? It was so far out of the town that locals used to say that if you went any further north you may as well be in Scotland! In fact, 'Scotland' in earlier times was used to denote the whole area around Scotland Street.

This photo is of a sample roll of Heiffor's razors, probably used by a travelling salesman for the firm, taken from the University of Sheffield website:



Regards,
Neil

John Heiffor



James Hill

Man! This is a cool thread. Thanks for all that info, Neil! I am blessed with 6 Heiffors. 2 are Army razors. One is at home in my rotation. I call it "the Brick". very heavy near wedge with an unusual blade shape. Here are 2 nice Ivories.

No problem - glad to help. I am green with envy though - those are two beautiful razors you posted pics of, particularly the second one - outstanding. A sheer delight to look at!

Regards,
Neil

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

No problem - glad to help. I am green with envy though - those are two beautiful razors you posted pics of, particularly the second one - outstanding. A sheer delight to look at!

Regards,
Neil

Yes, When I got that one along with the other one, they were rusted a bit. But the way that carved one turned out! My RAD subsided! Good! BTW, How would you like to own that roll? SICK! Talk about curing RAD! Mine sort of look as if they could be in there! At least I have a few! Thank You, Tom