Thread: Unknown Wade & Butcher, anyone see this??

I went to a few local antique shops today looking for a vintage strop. Much to my surprise I found a vintage strop in wonderful condition! In the same shop, in a teacup on a back shelf there was this razor. For $20 I brought it home. I can't find ANY other that has the same markings as this. Any information as to the age/model of this razor would be much appreciated! Myself and Ironsidegnr will hopefully tackle this beast when he gets back from vacation

The etching has some nice detail around the words 'wade and butcher'

Great find, congratulations!
The smart guys will wade in soon, but my guess is a Wade and Butcher Wedge made between 1891 and 1914.
Blonde Horn scales, looks like 7/8 or 8/8, straight spine (no bow).
Let the team know the size, picture of the back side of the tang if there is anything to report...
Like is it tight/stable or does it feel like the pivot hole has been worn out...

It looks to be in very good shape.

There are no other markings on the blade whatsoever. The blade at its widest looks like either a 6/8 or 7/8, it's kind of in between so maybe originally a 7/8 with a bit of ware?? The pivot is quite tight! The scales look like they have some 'worm' damage and not sure if they are salvageable.

I had a similar one, probably looked somewhat like this. Mine had the same translucent horn scales until they cracked while trying to re-pin them

Originally Posted by MJC

Great find, congratulations!
The smart guys will wade in soon, but my guess is a Wade and Butcher Wedge made between 1891 and 1914.
Blonde Horn scales, looks like 7/8 or 8/8, straight spine (no bow).
Let the team know the size, picture of the back side of the tang if there is anything to report...
Like is it tight/stable or does it feel like the pivot hole has been worn out...

It looks to be in very good shape.

Good call. That's the way I read it too.

I'm thinkin it's about a 7/8.

Clean it up a bit, hone it, and enjoy the shave. Those old big, wedgy ones shave smoooooooooooth. (At least for me anyway). LOL

I had a big Frederick Reynolds with blond horn scales like yours. I soaked the whole razor in mineral oil for a couple of days and then let it sit wet for a week or so. I then wet sanded the scales with 800, 1200, and 2000 grit wet or dry "sand paper", polished them with Mothers and they look GREAT now. Yours look like they'll clean up nice as well.

Very similar etching but the stamp on the tang is different! Yours says 'sheffield' mine says 'sheffield, england'

Any idea of the 'model' name for this blade? How does it compare to the 'celebrated' or 'barber use' or 'adamantite edge' blades??

mine says 'sheffield, england'

Your razor was made after 1891.

How does it compare to the 'celebrated' or ...

Nohow.
Possibly, I've not understood the question correctly.
But different models- different razors, but all were made by well-known Sheffield company.

I have the same exact razor. A very good shaver BTW. Thanks for posting .... now I know more about the dating of my own razor, something I always wondered about. Thank you.

Originally Posted by manah

Your razor was made after 1891.

Nohow.
Possibly, I've not understood the question correctly.
But different models- different razors, but all were made by well-known Sheffield company.

I guess what I am curious about is the quality of steel and quality of shave that would come with a razor like this compared to the wade and butchers that seemingly are more sought after.

They were all made on the same street, in the same factory, by the same men. The only difference is in the looks. The quality of the shave is a matter of the person who honed it, and the person who is shaving with it. This, assuming you're not using a pakistani or chinese razor.