Joseph Rodgers & Sons 'GOVT'

I just recieved this Joseph Rodgers & Sons wedge, maybe 1/4 hollow, that I picked up on the bay, pretty cheap I might add for a JR&Sons. On the front of the tang it reads the usual Joseph Rodgers & Sons, etc., etc. but on the back of the tang it reads HM GOVT. The scales appear to be original and are aluminum. Anyone have any info as to what the HM GOVT means and a possible age of this razor?

When I bid on it I thought the scales were replacments and was going to make a set for it. Now that I have it in hand and see they are original I believe I'm going to leave it that way. Will clean the blade up a bit but don't think I can get all the pitting & dark spots out. Beside, I think spotting and pitting give some of these old razors character.

Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I think that may be a British ARMY field knife for medical use - kinda like a razor merged with a scalpel. I have a US Army version that looks very much like yours -- I collect Sheffield razors specifically and I rather have yours.

H.M. GOVT = Her Majesty's Government

I will need to find mine and get a picture for comparison later this evening.

I have a similar razor, with the same metal scales, which makes it very likely that they're the original ones.

I'd assumed that Rodgers got a contract from the government to make razors for the military, but that's only a guess.

Attachment 105705

Some additional info:

The blade is not flat on one side like some of the old medical blades/razors used for surgery that I seen listed. It has the same grind on both sides, see pic.

Matt69,
Yours sure looks good. Mine will never look like that. Besides, I buy JR&Sons for their great shave.

It is really nice straight razor. I like Joseph Rodgers & Sons razors. This razor was purchased in UK so might be British version. That`s all what I can tell.

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Originally Posted by jumbojohnny

I think that may be a British ARMY field knife for medical use - kinda like a razor merged with a scalpel. I have a US Army version that looks very much like yours -- I collect Sheffield razors specifically and I rather have yours.

H.M. GOVT = Her Majesty's Government

I will need to find mine and get a picture for comparison later this evening.

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Probably HIS Majestys Government

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Originally Posted by pds

Probably HIS Majestys Government

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Probably not... Its HIS or HER Majesty's Government...kinda like the towels in my bathroom. :)

Her Majesty's Government (term) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I have seen a number of razors like that, and still have a few sets of steel sclaes - with HM Govt stamped on them - that I picked up in a job lot together with other things.

Curiously, the wear on the razor does not look commensurate with the scales - also one side of the pivot pinning has the washer missing and looks to have been re-peened.

Older military-issue razors generally have a servicemans number on them if for individual use, or and arrow if for general military use, so it may have been for use in othe government departments, like medical or prison, for example, where it could be properly disinfected due to the metal scales - individual servicemens razors generally had horn scales or similar.

Regards,
Neil

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jumbojohnny

Probably not... Its HIS or HER Majesty's Government...kinda like the towels in my bathroom. :)

Her Majesty's Government (term) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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I was basing it on the scales -aluminium wasn't in particularly common production until post-1900 so it was more likely that there was a king on the throne at the time. However, after reading Neils' post could be an earlier blade from Vickys' reign that's had the scales changed - tho' I have a very similar Rodgers blade from George VII's reign (1901-1910)