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

I hit it with the 2000 grit sandpaper and took a few more pictures with different lighting.

I'm now reasonably certain it's 'STEWART'

Yes ti is!

Hello Voidmonster!

Nice razor - I can see what you mean about the 'french' look, but I think it is english. I'm not so sure about the tang markings - I'm reasonably sure that I have seen the symbols together before, but not where - could have been tools just as well as razors. I'm not sure that the name is 'STEWART' either (you are right about it being no relation to the Stewart of Caring Cross famous for the 'Plantagenet' Guard Razor - I have since found that that particular Stewart's Sheffield agents were John and William Ragg and I suspect that they made the razor for him as 'Plantagenet' was one of the marks they used) - but I digress! The third letter along from the left looks rounded in places - like an 'O' and I know of a famous cutler, surgical instrument maker and razor maker called James Stodart of 401, strand, London, whose business ceased around 1836, probably run at that time by David Stodard as James died in 1823. His lancets and surgical instruments were simply stamped STODART in capital letters, but with no makers mark. I have never seen a razor by him (you will recall he was senior to Faraday and instrumental in Faradays discovery of true silver steel). The instruments mostly had shagreen cases, tortoiseshell handles and were known for their excellence. He also made razors from wootz, a crucible or 'cast' steel.

Being a London cutler, his mark - if any - would not appear in the Sheffield register.



It may not be a Stodart razor, but is intriguing nevertheless!

Regards,
Neil

After a little more research it now seems like your razor was definitely made by James Stodart. Below is a picture of a gold lancet case, complete with his crown and star symbol and name:



and here are a few of his trade cards that prove he made razors as well as surgical instruments:









Regards,
Neil

From The London Knife Book:
David Stodart, Cutler and Surgical Instrument Maker. 401 Strand, London. 1787-1839.

Thank you Neil! Thank you Alex!

That must be it!

Now all that remains is the question of when it was made. My instinct is 1810-1820, but it's such an odd duck of a razor I don't feel very confident.

I also wonder if it is, in fact, not intended to be a razor at all but a surgical cutting tool.

For what it's worth, the scales are horn and it has a lead wedge.

I think that the London Knife Book could do with a little clarification, Alex!

James died in 1823 and his original company traded under the name of James Stodart. Samuel Stodart and David Stodart were in partnership at the premises at Strand and trading under the name of 'David & Samuel Stodart' after this, but their partnership was dissolved in 1832:



At that time Samuel would have been only 15 years old (he was born in 1817 in Strand, but by 1881 he was living in Lambeth). David - the elder brother - carried on with the business - trading under the same name as when in partnership with (presumably) his brother, but by 1835 he was declared insolvent and unable to meet his debts, as this extract form the London Gazette of November, 1835 records:



So, as cited above, the business ceased trading in 1836 or in the last two months of 1835 and I suppose the dates given by the London Knife Book are the birth/death dates for David. The only thing that worries me is that the Sun Insurance archive for May 1836 shows that the occupant of 401 Strand was David Stodart, but that may be because the insurance did not expire until then?

I would imagine the razor was made in James's time.

I suppose the dates given by the London Knife Book are the birth/death dates for David.

Yes, of course. I think so too.
I've put the dates in the end of the sentence, instead of the beginning.=)

David Stodart, 1787-1839. Cutler and Surgical Instrument Maker. 401 Strand, London.

you are right about it being no relation to the Stewart of Caring Cross famous for the 'Plantagenet' Guard Razor - I have since found that that particular Stewart's Sheffield agents were John and William Ragg and I suspect that they made the razor for him as 'Plantagenet' was one of the marks they used


Here's an example of Ragg's patent plantagenet guard razor, is it possible that Ragg took over the patent of Stewart?
Could you tell me where I could find more information about the connection Stewart-Ragg?

Greetings

Originally Posted by Fikira

you are right about it being no relation to the Stewart of Caring Cross famous for the 'Plantagenet' Guard Razor - I have since found that that particular Stewart's Sheffield agents were John and William Ragg and I suspect that they made the razor for him as 'Plantagenet' was one of the marks they used


Here's an example of Ragg's patent plantagenet guard razor, is it possible that Ragg took over the patent of Stewart?
Could you tell me where I could find more information about the connection Stewart-Ragg?

Greetings

Hi Fikira,

I would like to see a full picture of this razor, particularly the blade. Below is an 1871 trade advertisement for John & William Ragg:



Regards,
Neil