Thread: Razor identification, history, and date help.

Hello fellows and maybe gals(?). I acquired a straight razor really cheap that I plan to get honed and see how it shaves. It isn't in great condition, but I am hoping it will be a good project razor for me to practice scale making and maybe polishing and be a workhorse shaver etc..It is a wedge with wood scales. The maker on the razor says Joseph Smith and has the crown and VR in front of that with Sheffield under makers name. I think it measures a little bigger and longer than my 5/8 straight razor I use now. My research has turned up some perplexing information about this maker. I found that Joseph Smith was born in 1785. The Company of Cutlers recorded the apprenticeship of Joseph Smith to his father, Isaac Smith, a razor maker in Stannington. Joseph was granted his Freedom in 1810. He first appeared in a Sheffield directory in 1833, trading from Radford Street. By 1852, the enterprise became "& Son" - presumably with the addition of Joseph's son, John. The enterprise employed ten men and three boys. By the late 1870s, it had moved to Solly Street. The trademark was "Joseph Smith & Sons, Celebrated Razors", above "3415"(granted in 1810). By 1887, the name and mark had been acquired by Joseph Allen & Sons. I am assuming it is older than the Joseph Allen take over 1887 due to the lack of trademarks that Allen acquired. So with this info in mind I place my razor pre 1852 because it has just Joseph Smith stamped no "& son" or "Co". One factor that goes against this is on the longer side and not stubby. Also, another enigma is that an internet search on these razors almost 99.9% of the time will turn up the Celebrated Razors 3415. Has anyone come across or owns just a "Joseph Smith" with VR? It is strange that my razor does not include their trademark that was granted in 1810 and acquired by Joseph Allen.I have read online that the Joseph Allen made the Smith razors but included "Celebrated", "sons" or "co" and 3415. I hope there is someone out there that can shed some more light on this razor? Are they uncommon? I have only seen one razor online that had just "Joseph Smith", but it lacked the VR. I'll take any help I can get. Thanks.