Thread: Patent tempered steel

Does anyone have information about this one?

That is what we've dubbed a "stub tail." Yours is probably early 1800s. No telling who made it but it is a nice one and ought to make a good shave once honed properly.

As Jimmy said, nice old razor. Should be nice to shave with. Use it in good health.

I'd guess it was made at some point between 1810 and 1830.

To my eye, the scales look like they've been heavily sanded to cause the 'ribbing'.

There are many firms that could likely have made it and at this point there's no real way to know which one it was.

Personally, I've seen Joseph Rodgers, Robert Wade, Wade & Butcher, George Hammond, Joseph Elliot, John Barber, Lord & Harvey, and Thomas Scargill razors with the same or very similar blades, as well as many others that have no identifiable maker's mark.

Along with Packwood razors, razors like this represent the great bulk of 'dark matter' in razor history. There's a minute sliver of hope that someone might ultimately dig up information about where the Packwood family had their razors made, but for blades like this the answer is almost certainly unknowable.

But that doesn't mean it's not a fantastic razor to shave with and it certainly doesn't mean that particular razor doesn't have a history. I can tell you that it hasn't been honed in many years, based on uniformity of the patina over the hone wear on the spine.

These mistery razors might also be caused by many of them being inscribed with the makers mark on the side of the spine, which might have been honed off over time.

A very nice, helpfull way to give much information! Very much thanks!
I issume that the scale material is horn? It give a reddish shine when you putt the light through...

Originally Posted by Pithor

These mistery razors might also be caused by many of them being inscribed with the makers mark on the side of the spine, which might have been honed off over time.

Certainly that's happened to some of them. I have both a Wade & Butcher and a Greaves & Sons from the era, the W&B is stamped on the spine and the Greaves has their name directly on the blade, where, with a later regrind or even vigorous sanding to remove rust, it could easily be completely lost. But many simply weren't identified.

Originally Posted by Fikira

A very nice, helpfull way to give much information! Very much thanks!
I issume that the scale material is horn? It give a reddish shine when you putt the light through...

I've filled my brain with all this stuff, it's fun to put it to use helping others. I'm very glad to help!

... And yes, I'm certain it's horn. Very similar to my Lord & Harvey. The blade is similar as well.

Thanks again! A strange thing is that in "Goins" "Patent tempered steel" is from R. Wade, but I've seen more examples with these markings and not specific of Wade alone

Originally Posted by Fikira

Thanks again! A strange thing is that in "Goins" "Patent tempered steel" is from R. Wade, but I've seen more examples with these markings and not specific of Wade alone

I would be wary of much of the info in Goins - it's full of errors. My copy has amendments and additions scrawled in by me on almost every page.

Regards,
Neil

Originally Posted by Fikira

Thanks again! A strange thing is that in "Goins" "Patent tempered steel" is from R. Wade, but I've seen more examples with these markings and not specific of Wade alone

Neil is exactly right (and knows even better than me) about Goins.

At this point, personally, I use any reference material as a starting point and then get back to original sources wherever possible. (Sheffield directories, period publications, local histories, etc).