Thread: Geo Wostenholm "Sold Unfinished" - is this real or an fleabay fake?

I stumbled upon this add which made me do a double take
I couldn´t find any info about it, which makes me think it was a fake.
The tang seems really thick.
Has anyone come across this blade before?

I've never seen something like this.
But why not?
The blank was made by G.Wostenholm and sold for third side.
Grinding, polish and honing were made by another company.

Hmmm.... Is the Pipe symbol correct? Looks close but im not sure. Strange why they would stamp on it unfinished.

That is most likely a piece of razor history! I believe most makers sold "blanks" to others to finish and scale, for different markets. I like it! ...get it on... Tom

Is the Pipe symbol correct?

I believe most makers sold "blanks" to others to finish and scale,

I think so too. And this blank was made for unknown, not so popular, company.
And the Wostenholm mark could help to sell the razor profitably.

I have never seen that marking before. If the price is right, I would definitely buy it just for its uniqueness. I think you might have one of a kind.

Happy Shaving!

It is similar to the Wade & Butcher that was in a similar thread here some time ago:



"For Concaving" must just mean 'for hollow grinding.' The difficulty would be in applying another makers mark if the blanks were bought-in to sell as their own - if the metal was already heat-treated, that is, and these look like they have been. If the original mark was to be lost it could be ground off - there are a lot of razors with no identifying marks on them - or the tang could be ground extra thin and dressed in a sleeve, eg MOP or ivory, which is often seen.

Although I've seen a handful of razors with these marks, I have never seen a razor with such marks AND another makers name on it. I'm not saying that they don't exist, but any sensible marketing of them at the time would tend to indicate that the origin of the blade would be obscured or lost altogether, IMO.

Regards,
Neil

Originally Posted by sharptonn

That is most likely a piece of razor history! I believe most makers sold "blanks" to others to finish and scale, for different markets. I like it! ...get it on... Tom

Ahhh.....its already gone
Well I will be ready if I ever see another one like this again. If this is legit as other members suggest then it would be a real collectors.
Next time

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

It is similar to the Wade & Butcher that was in a similar thread here some time ago:



"For Concaving" must just mean 'for hollow grinding.' The difficulty would be in applying another makers mark if the blanks were bought-in to sell as their own - if the metal was already heat-treated, that is, and these look like they have been. If the original mark was to be lost it could be ground off - there are a lot of razors with no identifying marks on them - or the tang could be ground extra thin and dressed in a sleeve, eg MOP or ivory, which is often seen.

Although I've seen a handful of razors with these marks, I have never seen a razor with such marks AND another makers name on it. I'm not saying that they don't exist, but any sensible marketing of them at the time would tend to indicate that the origin of the blade would be obscured or lost altogether, IMO.

Regards,
Neil

Thanks for your input Neil!
With the sheer volume of Sheffield steel that passes through your hands, your word carries considerable weight.
I wish I had bid for that blade now.
Shane