Thread: Need Help Identifying an old Wade& Butcher

Hi all. Hoping someone can help me identify this old Wade & Butcher. Please forgive me, I'm slightly new to straight razors, only own one (A Boker King Cutter, which I love.)

The other Day my Father handed me a Wade and Butcher and wanted me to clean it up for him so he could try a Straight razor for the first time. He found this tucked away in my late Grandfather's dresser. I was wondering if anyone can give me some info on it, type and how to go about restoring it. I would like to fix it up for my father, & keep it in the family. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
It has a Barber's notch, (not sure of any measurements) On the face of the Blade, there is a Lion to the left of two shields with a banner above it that says Defenders of Liberty.

Thanks for any help.

Jeff

It's a well used Wade and Butcher (nothing wrong with that) with blond horn scales. Pre-1891 (no England on the tang, just Sheffield). As to the etch, I'll leave that to others who know more. Those old wedges can be horribly difficult to hone. Talk to a restorer/honer. I'd try to keep the scales but it kinda depends what's going on under that plaster/band-aid.

Thanks for the Info. Unfortunately one of the scales is broken on the edge at least a half inch missing.

There are people who could replace the bad one while keeping the good. This is just a thought. I love blond horn almost as much as I love original.

Welcome to SRP Jeff. Sorry but we don't allow valuations on SRP. If the razor were sent to me for restoration I would suggest just scraping off the rust with a single edge razor blade used in scrapers available from the hardware store. Any metal removal or even metal polish would remove the etching. That type of grind (semi wedge or wedge type) does take a bit more time to hone. The bevels are usually wider requiring more metal removal and more time. Wade and Butcher razors usually give a good shave once properly honed. Honing a razor is much different than honing a knife so if you haven't honed a razor I should suggest PMing someone to at provides those services to see if they can provide you the service. Please do not discuss and purchases or sales in the open forum. Here on SRP we try to keep all commercial talk to private messaging or emails. You can find members that provide services in the Classifieds forum under Member's Services. Good luck. Oh, our members will also provide re-scaling services.

Originally Posted by Joed

Welcome to SRP Jeff. Sorry but we don't allow valuations on SRP. If the razor were sent to me for restoration I would suggest just scraping off the rust with a single edge razor blade used in scrapers available from the hardware store. Any metal removal or even metal polish would remove the etching. That type of grind (semi wedge or wedge type) does take a bit more time to hone. The bevels are usually wider requiring more metal removal and more time. Wade and Butcher razors usually give a good shave once properly honed. Honing a razor is much different than honing a knife so if you haven't honed a razor I should suggest PMing someone to at provides those services to see if they can provide you the service. Please do not discuss and purchases or sales in the open forum. Here on SRP we try to keep all commercial talk to private messaging or emails. You can find members that provide services in the Classifieds forum under Member's Services. Good luck. Oh, our members will also provide re-scaling services.

yeah that!!!

Any chance of some clearer photos of the etching?
I haven´t seen a W&B with that description.

Here is the best I could do. Thanks for taking a look

That etching/frosting s very fragile. Any attempt to remove the rust will remove the etching/frosting.

Originally Posted by Joed

That etching/frosting s very fragile. Any attempt to remove the rust will remove the etching/frosting.

What he said
It must have been very impressive new.
I am guessing the shield on the left is the royal coat of arms, and the shield on the right the US stars and stripes.
If I remember correctly W&B razors with the arrow B and cross on the tang date around the late 1800s.