Thread: Any Info on Snub Tail Wostenholm

Anyone have any info on them? The info I find is sparse and vague.

I seem to have acquired a Wostenholm Snub Tail. The only mark on the razor is a badly damaged "Wostenholm" (finally was able to determine it definitively after some cleaning). I can't seem to find anything about it. I'll hopefully get some pics up next week, but I don't think the scales are original; they don't quite fit the razor (the edge sticks out the back) and all the snub tails I've ever seen with original scales have scales that are straight and tapered (these are the common curve).

Any info is appreciated. I'll have more info for you in the next few days as well.

pictures, pictures, pictures. please.

i'm suprised that there is only the name, they usually put the "pipe" trademark on them even on many of the older models

Originally Posted by syslight

pictures, pictures, pictures. please.

i'm suprised that there is only the name, they usually put the "pipe" trademark on them even on many of the older models

+1 needs pics

I'll see about getting some soon.

I'm hiding this one from SWMBO. Gotta be discreet ;-)

If there are no other markings than just "Wostenholm", I'd say it was pre-1830, since after then (if I remember correctly) Sheffield razors were required to be marked with 'Sheffield'. I have a 'Bengall' and a John Barber with no other markings (except the J. Barber logo), and they are old, pre-1830, even though the Barber is not a stub-tail as such and has curved and carved horn scales (John Barber was in production 1810-1834).

I'd guess it's the same 'brand' as George Wostenholm, the brand was in production since 1694.

If the scales look weird and the razor doesn't fit, they probably aren't original. Since it's such an old razor, the most likely explanation is that someone did a rescale somewhere along the way, and only had access to limited supplies, i.e. some random scales.

Originally Posted by Pithor

If there are no other markings than just "Wostenholm", I'd say it was pre-1830, since after then (if I remember correctly) Sheffield razors were required to be marked with 'Sheffield'. I have a 'Bengall' and a John Barber with no other markings (except the J. Barber logo), and they are old, pre-1830, even though the Barber is not a stub-tail as such and has curved and carved horn scales (John Barber was in production 1810-1834).

I'd guess it's the same 'brand' as George Wostenholm, the brand was in production since 1694.

If the scales look weird and the razor doesn't fit, they probably aren't original. Since it's such an old razor, the most likely explanation is that someone did a rescale somewhere along the way, and only had access to limited supplies, i.e. some random scales.

All you have said pretty much verified what I have found in my research on this razor. Thanks for the help

I have a "Westenholm" stubbie as well. This is the father George. His sons joined him in 1823, so I believe your stubbie (and mine) predates that. Believe he added "Geo Westenholm & sons" in 1823. FYI, There are several histories of the Westenholms posted previously in the forum. He made a good razor.

George Wostenholm was born on 31st January 1800 in Sheffield. His father and great-grand-father were both called George and had been involved in the cutlery trade.
In the early 1820s, his father brought him into the business, which was discribed in a Sheffield directory as "George Wostenholm & Son, manufacturers of table knives, and forks, pen, pocket, and sportsman's knives, and general dealers in cutlery, 78 Rockingham Street."

Only marking on this bad boy is Wostenholm.....That's it. Gotta take a picture...

Finally, got some pictures:

Photo Album - Imgur

Couldn't get a clear picture of the tang stamp, but on one of the pics, you can make out a WOS.

It definitely says WOSTENHOLM in a typeface that I could only describe as monospace caps.


I'm not sure how to unpin it though. Doesn't look like it has any collars, and I'm afraid to drill out the pins....Could I just use a very small drill bit to drill out the center of the pin? Perhaps the pin is so brittle that it would crack if it was hollowed out. Or deform enough to allow me to pry off the scale.