Thread: A Wade and Butcher not in the data base

Hey guys, I picked up this little gem, and am going to have it restored. There is a wee bit of rust around the handle/pivot, but the blade its self is in great shape. Only grey patina. It also looks as if it hardly ever seen a hone!

I found the data base, but this one isn't listed. Any help or history would be appreciated.

Bear



On the blade face it says "Diamond Edge Razor" Above that on the spine it says "CELEBRATED FINE INDIA...) the next line on the spine says (steel...) the rest of the stamp is missing.

Tang stamp says
"MANUFACTURED BY"
"WADE & BUTCHER"
"SHEFFIELD"

Diamond edge... man, you gonna have a hard time honing that one!

Those are not uncommon. I've seen a few. Not as common as some but I wouldn't call it 'rare'. Great blade though and nice condition. Probably 1850s 'to '80s. No country of origin stamped so pre 1891 and the etching started around 1830 IIRC. My supposition on the dating is just that ..... a supposition. Nice find in that condition.

Now the next question, whan a razor is called a 6/8, 7/8... 9/8 ( pick a size) is it the blade height they refer to or the sharpening size? This one measures 7/8 but would sharpen (if you calculate bevel angle) as a 5/8, because the contact point would be on the shoulder ridge. What is the correct way to explain blade height?

Also, any idea what the rest of the stamp would have said?

Originally Posted by PierreR

Now the next question, whan a razor is called a 6/8, 7/8... 9/8 ( pick a size) is it the blade height they refer to or the sharpening size? This one measures 7/8 but would sharpen (if you calculate bevel angle) as a 5/8. What is the correct way to explain blade height?

Some manufacturers of modern razors measure from the top of the spine to the bottom of the cutting edge, others measure from the honing flat just beneath the top of the spine to the bottom of the cutting edge. So you might buy a razor advertised by the manufacturer as a 6/8 and find measuring from the top of the spine it is 7/8. The thickness of the spine would ideally lead to a 17 degree angle IIRC, give or take a couple of degrees. There are long threads on that topic and I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong ...... I was wrong once before.

As I was told by Heribert Wacker himself.The german way to measure a blade is the center of the spine to blade edge.
He said the american way is wrong (top of spine to edge).

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

As I was told by Heribert Wacker himself.The german way to measure a blade is the center of the spine to blade edge.
He said the american way is wrong (top of spine to edge).

How do you find the center?
I've never got my head around how to measure this...

Originally Posted by Lemur

How do you find the center?
I've never got my head around how to measure this...

I think by 'center' where the top of the 'honing flat' begins ....... but I could be (shudder) wrong ........

Your not wrong Jim,Never have been where the spine sits on the stone,really makes not a hill of beans unless you sell blades on the bay and such,you can pick up an 1/8 the american way,right or wrong

So, on a brand new razor it would be from the edge to where it contacts the hone, on a razor with some hone wear you have to guesstimate where that would be.
But if the edge is not parallel to the back, what then?