Thread: Old pipe razor, help to id it ...

Hi All!

Bought an oldie not to long ago and I got it for a song too

I didn't even notice the pipe mark at first (and there seems to be some traces of something else to left and _maybe_ something under the pipe mark as well).

Scales are not original (I'll eat my hat if is). Anyone know anything about this one (I think there where two makers with pipes, Wostenholm being one and then a couple who now and then "borrowed" their mark)? Thanks for the help!

Well, this thread's nothing without pictures :

This pipe has been discussed before but I cannot remember the maker for the life of me. One of the "historians" will chime in later today I'm sure.

There's talk about a very similar one I posted here. Starts at post 96 if the link doesn't work.

Originally Posted by AlanII

There's talk about a very similar one I posted here. Starts at post 96 if the link doesn't work.

Cheers Alan! It sure looks like that one. Mystery solved, I guess Thank you!

Can you post a pic of the scales , showing them full view , both sides , please ? I'm thinking they could be original .

Originally Posted by dave5225

Can you post a pic of the scales , showing them full view , both sides , please ? I'm thinking they could be original .

Ha, you only want me to eat my hat I highly doubt they're original, but I've been wrong before. Wooden scales, to start with... :

Thanks ! They look like they're original , to me . I've seen a few examples of home made scales , but those scales look like they're made by a pro . Many old razors had wooden scales . Here are some pics of mine :

BTW , you don't have to eat your hat , but please , I beg you , don't take the scales off of that razor .

Originally Posted by dave5225

BTW , you don't have to eat your hat , but please , I beg you , don't take the scales off of that razor .

I'm lucky I don't have a hat then Hmm, seems odd, but you can be right, of course. They're a perfect fit, so I do think a pro made them, but my thought was that they where put on later. I also think mine is an earlier razor than yours (the stub tail/tang) and that wooden scales didn't last that long... You've some nice blades there, I really like the last one, very nice indeed! Thank you for the help!

Thank you .
I do think you razor is older than any of mine .
Wooden scales were in use longer than you think . The first 2 razors , I believe are circa 1800 - 1810 . I can't make out the tang stamp on the first one , but the second one is stamped "Merit" .
The third razor is a Wade & Butcher , with a worn down blade etch that says "Wade & Butcher's , Celebrated , Fine India Steel Razor" . The tang is stamped "Sheffield , England" , which would date it post 1890 .
The fourth razor is stamped "Colley & Co. , 98 Arundel St. , Sheffield" . Colley & Co. was only at 98 Arundel St. , from 1838 to 1842 .
Enjoy your razor ! You did quite well ! I would be proud to own it .