Thread: WWI Razor? James Barber - Hand Forged

I just saw few days ago on Ebay a letter sent by some ministry to a Sheffield association of razor smiths, to encourage them to collect old razors from the people to send them to their soldiers during WWI. (I tried to save the imag but it was not allowed ) I have one Pipe like that, the handle is blonde horn with similar fire branded numbers (mine are a little different: 3CL 380).
According to this letter I saw, it seems we have razors that are older than 1915 (although yours looks older than mine), and that have been donated by English citizens to be sent to the front lines.

Originally Posted by Mauri

I just saw few days ago on Ebay a letter sent by some ministry to a Sheffield association of razor smiths, to encourage them to collect old razors from the people to send them to their soldiers during WWI. (I tried to save the imag but it was not allowed ) I have one Pipe like that, the handle is blonde horn with similar fire branded numbers (mine are a little different: 3CL 380).
According to this letter I saw, it seems we have razors that are older than 1915 (although yours looks older than mine), and that have been donated by English citizens to be sent to the front lines.

Yes! That's the exact program I was thinking of, and I too saw that listing on eBay (and this one as well, but it didn't mention the British refurbishing program -- just said it was an old James Barber razor).

I suppose it's possible that this one is from earlier or later in the war, but I kind of doubt it. Plus this razor has the 'RPA' initials burned in by hand rather than with a letterform stamp.

Thanks for the link, so I could save the pic!
According to the blade shape and scales material, I would say your razor is older than WWI.
Just a suggestion: couldn't the RPA have been branded by some soldier who wanted to personalize his razor?
If we had some historian expert in the cyphers used by armies it would be a blessing...

Originally Posted by Mauri

Thanks for the link, so I could save the pic!
According to the blade shape and scales material, I would say your razor is older than WWI.
Just a suggestion: couldn't the RPA have been branded by some soldier who wanted to personalize his razor?
If we had some historian expert in the cyphers used by armies it would be a blessing...

That's what I was thinking about the RPA brand as well.

The one thing I'm certain of is that I'll be cleaning this razor up and giving it its third(?) life.

I reckon those initials are 'RFA' for Royal Field Artillery - if someone had access to a list of RFA service numbers, then you could identify the soldier who owned that razor.

Regards,
Neil