Thread: Calling on the historical experts, I'm stumped! An unassuming mystery razor.

Apparently, dreams can come true.

If you're willing to spend enough money on them.





What I wasn't expecting was that the steel would be visibly a different color than regular carbon steel!

It's a difficult thing to get a photo of, but you can sort of see it here:



Carbon steel has a slight yellow cast to it compared to either of the two Stodart/Faraday alloys. It's an effect best seen in low, ambient light (precisely what I don't photograph things in), and also in motion, where it's possible to see the way the color changes with different angles.

Interestingly, so do Pickslay's 'Peruvian Steel' razors (though I didn't get any pictures of it).

Voidmonster, as always, incredible.

Having said that, for my benefit and others - could you expand a little on the pair of Stodart razors you've posted - I seldom see you get excited over some razors, so what makes these special?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Phrank

Voidmonster, as always, incredible.

Having said that, for my benefit and others - could you expand a little on the pair of Stodart razors you've posted - I seldom see you get excited over some razors, so what makes these special?

Thanks!

Go back to the beginning of this thread and read up to this message.

Originally Posted by Voidmonster

Go back to the beginning of this thread and read up to this message.

I did do that, but now that I look, I can see the tang stamp was Stodart, that's what you were asking about initially. What a fascinating story.

So you managed to grab these which look like they've been lounging for the last century and change untouched...wow!

Faraday and from his mad scientist lab....incredible!

Originally Posted by Phrank

I did do that, but now that I look, I can see the tang stamp was Stodart, that's what you were asking about initially. What a fascinating story.

So you managed to grab these which look like they've been lounging for the last century and change untouched...wow!

Faraday and from his mad scientist lab....incredible!

It's actually the pair that Lohar posted pictures of. I tracked down the eBay buyer who got them, made an unrefusable offer, and then patiently waited 15 months. (well, about 8 of those months were spent with me moving from one end of California to the other). He cleaned them up (quite nicely!) before I got them. CSquare, faaaar back toward the beginning, has a different pair of them.

They were manufactured by James Stodart's nephew, David. There's an advertisement for them a few pages back, found in the British Newspaper archives. David and Samuel sold them from about a year before James died until some unknown point after, but no later than 1836. I'd guess they didn't sell them for very long though because the raw materials were hellishly expensive.

I think it's now safe to say that these alloys DO weather time noticeably better than regular carbon steel.

Originally Posted by Voidmonster

It's actually the pair that Lohar posted pictures of. I tracked down the eBay buyer who got them, made an unrefusable offer, and then patiently waited 15 months. (well, about 8 of those months were spent with me moving from one end of California to the other). He cleaned them up (quite nicely!) before I got them. CSquare, faaaar back toward the beginning, has a different pair of them.

They were manufactured by James Stodart's nephew, David. There's an advertisement for them a few pages back, found in the British Newspaper archives. David and Samuel sold them from about a year before James died until some unknown point after, but no later than 1836. I'd guess they didn't sell them for very long though because the raw materials were hellishly expensive.

I think it's now safe to say that these alloys DO weather time noticeably better than regular carbon steel.

So, the most important question would be, have a shave with them, and let us know if you get super powers after....

If you do, I call dibs on next up!

Excellent Zak! I cant think of a better person to take care of theses razors for what they are. Enjoy!

Originally Posted by Phrank

So, the most important question would be, have a shave with them, and let us know if you get super powers after....

If you do, I call dibs on next up!

Shaving with'em is on my short-list.

Hi, Voidmonster. Please, be aware Osmium is a very toxic and reactive metal. IDK if it can be dangerous bonded with hell-know-what element present in this steel.

Originally Posted by Matheus

Hi, Voidmonster. Please, be aware Osmium is a very toxic and reactive metal. IDK if it can be dangerous bonded with hell-know-what element present in this steel.

Noted! Osmium tetroxide = NO FUN.

Aaaand you get that by creating a fine powder of osmium.

Stodart's death is starting to look suspicious!

I feel pretty confident that not enough would be produced in honing for it to be a problem, but I'm going to forego all grinding!