Thread: Who here on SRP owns the oldest razor?

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Me, I own the oldest razor on the forum. YMMV.

James.

Stands to reason, Jimbo. After all, you ARE the oldest guy on this forum! Bruce

What kind of material do you need? I have some burl (Cherry and Manzanita, both not stabalized but they are dried 2 years) and some Black G10 that I can share.

Originally Posted by alb1981

Attachment 98669

My Greaves 1817ish

due to financial obligations to the state of arizona, restoration process was halted until I can buy scale material.....

I also have some material

Originally Posted by pinklather

From a razor collector's book

Attachment 98686

caption under the photo in the book: These two old razors, pictured fully opened, are probably of Chinese origin in the 1700s, per-
haps earlier. There is no brand or stamping evident.

This one's mine.
Attachment 98690

I think this is a kamisori...look at the grinding on both sides--should be unequal: somewhat flat on one side, concave on the other. I have one just like the other one in the photo. Of course, if you listen to the know-it-alls in the thread where I posted pics of that one, you got ripped off just like I did, and we both have fakes (because there's a big market for faking obscure razors that almost nobody would recognize). But when I took the rust off mine, it could still shave arm hair without so much as a touch-up hone. If that's a knock-off, it's damn fine work.

I think they're not so much fakes as a very common razor type in the east (China) that have been made for a very long time in huge quantity, so it's a legitimate razor, just who knows about the age. Could have been dug up, could be much newer. A lot of people try to pass them off as colonial American razors, in which case they are "faked" or misrepresented.

Not by all means the oldest but its the oldest ones I have. All four Wade&Butchers
1. 8/8 magnum Bonum
2. 8/8 The Celebrated FBU
3. 7/8 FBU
4. Little shy of 7/8 The celebrated FBU

Originally Posted by ScienceGuy

I think they're not so much fakes as a very common razor type in the east (China) that have been made for a very long time in huge quantity, so it's a legitimate razor, just who knows about the age. Could have been dug up, could be much newer. A lot of people try to pass them off as colonial American razors, in which case they are "faked" or misrepresented.

Sure, but you're just guessing, right? You can't very well call it a "fake" colonial razor if you don't know what it actually is. A quick Google search suggests they could be anything from ancient Roman razors, to razors used for religious head-shaving (or samurai, etc), to Viking folding knives, to Colonial cooper's knives. All available evidence suggests that no matter what they are, most of them are probably a couple hundred years old, easy, across the board. Not surprising, since high quality crucible, Damascus, and laminate steel has been manufactured and traded for centuries.

Originally Posted by QuinnFlint

Sure, but you're just guessing, right? You can't very well call it a "fake" colonial razor if you don't know what it actually is. A quick Google search suggests they could be anything from ancient Roman razors, to razors used for religious head-shaving (or samurai, etc), to Viking folding knives, to Colonial cooper's knives. All available evidence suggests that no matter what they are, most of them are probably a couple hundred years old, easy, across the board. Not surprising, since high quality crucible, Damascus, and laminate steel has been manufactured and traded for centuries.

More of a read, experienced and informed guess. I would call it "fake" in the quantity that some sellers try to pass them off as early American straight razors, intentionally misrepresented or not. We do know pretty well what kinds of shaving razors were in colonial America, but I guess some of these could have been around. They certainly aren't Roman razors in the quantity and condition that are out there, though not saying there aren't Roman razors out there. I don't have a source on me but I think most of them date from 1900 +/- a hundred years or so in Asia (only one I have on hand is the Jardella book). I remember seeing a Chinese vendor with buckets of the things.

@ QuinnFlint I have honed a number of Kamisoris, none of them looked like the one picture in your post.

Originally Posted by jumbojohnny

What kind of material do you need? I have some burl (Cherry and Manzanita, both not stabalized but they are dried 2 years) and some Black G10 that I can share.

wow how did I miss that reply?
I have been taking a break due to bad luck and health issues so I haven't even touched a razor in months. Wonder what g10 would look like in that big ol' gal! Lol I have never stabilized wood before so I wouldn't even know how to start with that, but I bet it would be pretty...