Thread: how would you go about dating a razor

I have two razors and i want to know when they might have been made, i know one has to be at least the 60s cuz it might have ivory scales, but the other i am clueless about, i dont want pinpoint date just get an idea

Dating a razor? I'm kind of old fashioned so I'd ask the razor's father first.

Seriously though, what I've been doing is hunting through lists of makers and trademarks. The shape of the razor can help, as can the shape and material used in the scales. If you REALLY wanted to date it there's a method of radio carbon dating that can be done with extremely tiny amounts of material, though I have no idea how expensive that would be. "Horrendously expensive" is a term that comes to mind.

Post up a couple of pictures and people should be able to help you.

I would have to agree with Mick, but a box of chocolates helps.

I find the fastest way is to post pictures on SRP, especially when manah is online.
You will eventually get to a point where you can figure out what everyone else is looking for.

I still don't understand what the recent obsession with dating has been lately.

Q: "how would you go about dating a razor"
A: Get the phone number.

Q: what year was the razor made...
A: If you are lucky the maker is a famous one
and changes in the marks are well known.

Post a picture... the stamps on the tang will help.

hahaha, okay i will do that i will post pic's and look for a big old hear shaped box of chocolates

After some research, perhaps this list of manufacturers and dates of operation may help you.

I know it is not near a complete list, but the main ones are represented:

Straight Razor Manufacturers and Dates of Operation

Hope that helps some!!

Mike

For a fee, I will tell you the exact year of manufacture for any razor.
Accuracy guaranteed to within 200 years







This is not an actual offer for service.

The heck with dating, it's a tool that you just happen to be the master of... force yourself on it!

Originally Posted by MickRussell

Dating a razor? I'm kind of old fashioned so I'd ask the razor's father first.

Seriously though, what I've been doing is hunting through lists of makers and trademarks. The shape of the razor can help, as can the shape and material used in the scales. If you REALLY wanted to date it there's a method of radio carbon dating that can be done with extremely tiny amounts of material, though I have no idea how expensive that would be. "Horrendously expensive" is a term that comes to mind.

Post up a couple of pictures and people should be able to help you.

from what i understand though.. is that you can't really radio carbon date anything too recent (according to my archaeology professor) because radio carbon dating has many variables and can vary up to hundreds of years.

Originally Posted by deighaingeal

I would have to agree with Mick, but a box of chocolates helps.

I find the fastest way is to post pictures on SRP, especially when manah is online.
You will eventually get to a point where you can figure out what everyone else is looking for.

I still don't understand what the recent obsession with dating has been lately.

Two things... is it old enough to be considered an antique?
Easy enough to figure out with out of business manufacturers but not so easy with others.
For me, for some razors, I kind of like knowing, roughly, when an old razor was made because I enjoy history and it's kind of neat to think that "well, this razor was produced in the early 1900's, one of the greatest generation may have shaved with it", that kind of thing.