Thread: Help in Dating an Early Razor

Hi Guys,
I posted this in the Beginner Introductions but just in case, I'll post the pics here too.

The brush in the picture is from 1833 Hallmark so I thought a fitting companion to the razor.

This is a (I would estimate) late 1700s early 1800s Razor with Horn Scales, It hasn't had much use and is in original mahogany box and tatty outer card case.

Card Case Reads 'Portable Razors made of the finest Sheffield Steel'

Razor is marked ELLI on the Tang

Box has McPherson Brothers, Cutlers Glasgow on the top.

Any information on dating, most appreciated.

At first glance I thought it was a rescale with acrylic but the pins don't have collars. I also tend to think the work on the back was done later but maybe not. It looks to me that it is a mismatch as far as the box is concerned. The slight curve to the scales, short monkey tail and slight transition between cutting edge and tang suggests the 1810 period IMHO.

This is a better choice of forum to put this question in than member introductions. As a moderator I have to remind you that 'cross posting' is frowned upon.

That is a beautiful , but strange looking razor . Looks like an early 19th century blade , in 20th century scales .

Does it have a wedge? If so, what's it made of?

The scales look modern, or at least very recently polished. I'm not sure those pins lack collars. It's a little hard to tell from your pictures about the blade itself. I suspect it's been cleaned, and possibly enough so to erase part of the mark, which could possibly be ELLIOT. I know that the Joseph Elliot company was producing razors back into the late 1700's. It's very difficult to say without a clearer image of the tang stamp.

The McPhersons sold a pretty wide range of razors it seems, probably all made elsewhere. There is a thread with some of them here. I agree with Jimmy, that razor probably did not originally come in that box.

Sorting out a date is challenging. IMHO, it could range anywhere from 1790 to 1830. Where it was made has a large impact on what the design features mean in terms of age. If it's actually Scottish, I have nothing to compare it to so I can't really guess at the age. However, the one razor I have that came in a box like that was, indeed, very early 1800's.

As far as dating that particular razor, I'd say act like a gentleman: bring her flowers and chocolates, open doors for her, compliment her choice of attire, and always treat her like a lady.