Wade & Butcher Antique store find...from the 1830's?

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10-05-2011, 08:43 PM
jzwatkins

Wade & Butcher Antique store find...from the 1830's?

I found a nice Wade & Butcher at an antique shop today. It has a crown, and WR underneath. Does that really mean that it is from the 1830's? It looks to be a 6/8 in really nice shape.

Pics will come later
10-05-2011, 08:55 PM
MickRussell

Well the last King William reigned from 1830 to 1837, so Yeah that pretty well narrows it down. Nice find, congratulations!
10-05-2011, 10:10 PM
paco664

would you post a photo???
10-05-2011, 10:47 PM
Hirlau

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzwatkins

I found a nice Wade & Butcher at an antique shop today. It has a crown, and WR underneath. Does that really mean that it is from the 1830's? It looks to be a 6/8 in really nice shape.

Pics will come later

I will be waiting to see this one, good grab.
10-06-2011, 12:51 AM
jzwatkins

2 Attachment(s)

Here you go....Those are just iPhone photos, so nothing too fancy. There is actually hardly any pitting, just the usual gunk/tarnish. Its almost back to shining like a mirror after some 2000 grit paper and some polish.
10-06-2011, 01:26 AM
Hirlau

She's a beauty!!!
10-06-2011, 01:41 AM
sharptonn

1 Attachment(s)

Hey! I have it's brother! It seems obvious to most that these were reground. Mine has no appreciable hone wear and yours seems well-used. I would bet they will both shave great!:D
I suppose we should preserve them. And shave with them as well! Nice find! ...get it on...Tom
10-06-2011, 02:28 AM
jzwatkins

Yeah, it definitely shows it's age. After 174 years though, I think it deserves to show it though. I'm going to send it away to be honed and I'm going to put new scales on her. Annnnd might I add it was only 15 bucks lol
10-06-2011, 03:00 AM
stimpy52

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzwatkins

Yeah, it definitely shows it's age. After 174 years though, I think it deserves to show it though. I'm going to send it away to be honed and I'm going to put new scales on her. Annnnd might I add it was only 15 bucks lol

Bad man. Go punish yourself.
10-06-2011, 04:31 AM
DLB

Those scales look to be in great condition. You might want to restore them. They might turn out to be really stunning.

Great find and great price. Congratulations!

Happy Shaving!
10-06-2011, 05:12 AM
jzwatkins

They look it, but they are cracked, in several spots. I was very surprised at the price. this shop wanted 25 for a cheap Pakistan made blade, that couldnt cut butter, and then a German made razor for 40 with a huge chunk missing. Those were in the typical glass case, and I found the W&B just out on a shelf, in a generic razor box. It was like it was meant to be lol.
10-06-2011, 05:48 PM
AlanII

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzwatkins

They look it, but they are cracked, in several spots. I was very surprised at the price. this shop wanted 25 for a cheap Pakistan made blade, that couldnt cut butter, and then a German made razor for 40 with a huge chunk missing. Those were in the typical glass case, and I found the W&B just out on a shelf, in a generic razor box. It was like it was meant to be lol.

Clean and treat them first and see how they respond. Don't be too quick to replace them, I agree, they could be stunning, cracks'n'all.
10-06-2011, 05:54 PM
TrilliumLT

I agree some small cracks and chips on the scales just adds character. Save them if you can. Nice find BTW.
10-07-2011, 02:36 AM
gugi

That razor has been reground during a later period.
10-07-2011, 02:56 PM
sidmind

Just throwing in my my .002 but I think you should soak it in Neatfoot oil for a a few days, and then sand with MicroMesh or equivalent, and don't replace the scales, It looks great the way it is.
10-07-2011, 09:49 PM
AlanII

Quote:

Originally Posted by gugi

That razor has been reground during a later period.

It probably has, no harm there. Some of those regrounds are excellent.
10-07-2011, 10:12 PM
gugi

Well, I personally would stay away from something like this - it's not original, the regrind job looks bad, and the giant frown with corresponding heavy and uneven hone wear means a lot of work to make it to shave. And if it does it's still ugly.
My experience is that if somebody had to put such uneven honing on a blade they were trying for a long time to make it shave better, i.e. not a good gamble.
In any case, I think this is an example of what people ought to stay away from. I simply don't see a single positive thing on this razor (an early W&B stamp for me is a negative, unlike say john barber, or marshes&shepherd).

But YMMV, it's your money and your elbow grease.
10-08-2011, 03:24 AM
hoglahoo

Quote:

Originally Posted by gugi

I simply don't see a single positive thing on (fill in the blank)

You should be more of a glass is half full kind of guy! The razor above does look well-loved, but it is... well, it has such a nice- er, well it's very old and charming! Like grandma, and sharp as a tack!
10-08-2011, 03:37 AM
gugi

No wai, I likes when my glass runneth over.
10-09-2011, 04:08 AM
cjglancy

great find. im jealous.
10-09-2011, 11:42 AM
jzwatkins

Quote:

Originally Posted by gugi

Well, I personally would stay away from something like this - it's not original, the regrind job looks bad, and the giant frown with corresponding heavy and uneven hone wear means a lot of work to make it to shave. And if it does it's still ugly.
My experience is that if somebody had to put such uneven honing on a blade they were trying for a long time to make it shave better, i.e. not a good gamble.
In any case, I think this is an example of what people ought to stay away from. I simply don't see a single positive thing on this razor (an early W&B stamp for me is a negative, unlike say john barber, or marshes&shepherd).

But YMMV, it's your money and your elbow grease.

No positive thing?? It's 174 years of pure history right there. Where else can you hold something that is 174 years old? It's hard to tell what it's history has been. It could have been anywhere in the world, even traveled it several times. Sure, it's not a museum piece, and its seen its better days, but it has been saved from rusting away into razor oblivion. Not your cup of tea? Fine, more history for me :-)
10-09-2011, 11:27 PM
Havachat45

Quote:

Originally Posted by gugi

Well, I personally would stay away from something like this - it's not original, the regrind job looks bad, and the giant frown with corresponding heavy and uneven hone wear means a lot of work to make it to shave. And if it does it's still ugly.
My experience is that if somebody had to put such uneven honing on a blade they were trying for a long time to make it shave better, i.e. not a good gamble.
In any case, I think this is an example of what people ought to stay away from. I simply don't see a single positive thing on this razor (an early W&B stamp for me is a negative, unlike say john barber, or marshes&shepherd).

But YMMV, it's your money and your elbow grease.

I agree with gugi - you should send it to me immediately for proper disposal.
I think it's a great score - I want one