Thread: Unknown Sheffield, assymetric wedge

Hi all

Just received 2 razors from Tony H - and I strongly urge everybody to try his services! Long story short, he sent one as a present, because I wanted to pay a bit more than what he was asking for the other razor.

The present is almost 7/8 and an assymetric grind: 1 side true wedge, 1 side 1/4 or so. It also has been cleaned / polished, and has replacement plastic scales. The only lettering on the blade (on the tang) is GROUND IN SHEFFIELD. Nothing else. This is faint, but it was probably almost erased in the restoration. The blade has only been sharpened on the 1/4 hollow side, the other one looks to be untouched by a hone. Almost looks like someone ground one of the sides to a true wedge?

I am mystified and have several questions
- Has anyone heard / seen such a razor? What's the story?
- Should I hone both sides (obviously, with a true wedge this would take a bit )

Cheers
Ivo

That is not razor for shaving, but for slicing specimens for microscope observation. One side is honed like regular razor, and the other one flat on the hone. You can try and use it like Japanese razor, but then you will have to use only one hand, and one side of the razor facing your face...

Nenad

Thanks for the intell, Nenad.

Having only one side face my face is going to be tricky...

It sounds like a microtome blade. Some of them are truly large, like 12/8 or so. search on ebay and you'll fine microtome+razor sets from time to time.

I bought a box of these razors on Ebay once because it wasn't made clear that they were section razors instead of shaving razors.

They were made in Sheffield, too, by the way. Oh well, one day I'll figure out something to do with them if I can even remember where I stashed them.

Originally Posted by PapaBull

I bought a box of these razors on Ebay once because it wasn't made clear that they were section razors instead of shaving razors.

They were made in Sheffield, too, by the way. Oh well, one day I'll figure out something to do with them if I can even remember where I stashed them.

Well just don't go putting some fancy scales on them and then trying to sell them to me on Eboy!

No, I was thinking more along the lines of making utility knives out of them or something. There's no point dressing up a bad razor in nice clothing.

I picked up a Wade & Butcher that was so badly off center that I wondered if it was a right-handed razor.(Apologies to anyone who has seen this before, but it seems to fit in with this thread.)


In fact, the only thing that was really out of whack was was the grinding of the bevels on either side of the spine.

Now I keep it with my left-handed monkey wrench and tartan paint


Cheers,
Ian

Originally Posted by drifwood

I picked up a Wade & Butcher that was so badly off center that I wondered if it was a right-handed razor.(Apologies to anyone who has seen this before, but it seems to fit in with this thread.)


In fact, the only thing that was really out of whack was was the grinding of the bevels on either side of the spine.

Now I keep it with my left-handed monkey wrench and tartan paint


Cheers,
Ian

Nothing uncommon there, hone it up!

Not to hijack the thread, but even after I ground off 1/8" to get rid of a huge chip and put a bevel on it, it's got other problems.

The scales are toast, and the pivot hole is all out of shape. It's waiting for me to tackle a few simpler restores before I give it a go. The good news is that there's still 11/16" of meat left to shave with.

Cheers,
Ian

PS It was a freebie.