Strange and Different Razor!

Hi All!

This is a rather strange razor!!! It’s not mine, but it’s belongs to a good friend of mine in the UK. Originally he’d sent it to me for honing so I did and found that it took a great edge. But I thought that since it was so unique that it deserved more!

While it is a large full wedge, it didn’t hone like or shave like a heavy Sheffield Blade!!!

I was going to just touch it up with a bit of metal polish but since it was so unique I sent it to a good friend for an un-pinning, a ride on his buffers and an evaluation of what he thought of it!

Not only is rather short, but there are absolutely no stamps about who made it or where it came from. I do not believe that they were at some point in time buffed or sanded out. It did have some heavy machining marks and some still remain.

What are really baffling are the non machine marks that remain under the tang!!! It looks like the metal was folded over and over!!! You will note that the folds continue on the tail!!!

I don’t think that the picture of the polished blade would show what I’m talking about, but there are distinct ‘lines’ that aren’t parallel in the blade itself!

Any help would be appreciated!!! Especially someone with knowledge of working metal!!!

Thanks Guys!!!

Very interesting razor.

Looks to me to be a shortened re-grind. The normal blade length for a blade of that size is 3".... Possibly a bit over 3". Judging by the shape of the tail it appears who ever shortened the blade also worked the tail and likely removed the makers marks as well as left those grind marks which you described as fold marks. The heel grind and the barbers notch look inorganic to me, this job was likely done by some one at home in their work shop likely due to a cracked toe. The personal even took the time to shorten the scales to make the blade fit properly. The wedge end appears to be 100% repinned. Some have also shortened the blade as short blades have an ability to get in to hard to reach places and are proffered by some.

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Originally Posted by JoeLowett

Looks to me to be a shortened re-grind. The normal blade length for a blade of that size is 3".... Possibly a bit over 3". Judging by the shape of the tail it appears who ever shortened the blade also worked the tail and likely removed the makers marks as well as left those grind marks which you described as fold marks. The heel grind and the barbers notch look inorganic to me, this job was likely done by some one at home in their work shop likely due to a cracked toe. The personal even took the time to shorten the scales to make the blade fit properly. The wedge end appears to be 100% repinned. The personal boil have also shortened the blade as short blades have an ability to get in to hard to reach places and are proffered by some.

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Originally I'd thought same, however I've worked in a machine shop and my father was a veteran and accomplished machinist and those marks under the shank and extending to the tail are definitely NOT MACHINE MARKS!

Look like grind marks or file marks on the tang to me Roy but only got the pic to go on. :shrug:
That baby was definitely shortened. Should handle well round corners . :)

With all do respect to your opinion on the subject, I too have my fair share of experience with metal work, and though I don't have the blade in hand I can honestly say I have seen grind wheel striations that look just like that. That type of blade likely would not have Been a candidate for pattern welding or steel layering during forging. Again just my opinion. Only so much you can tell for sure with out the blade in hand. As for the blade being a shortened regrind... Take a look at that barbers notch and the stabilizer- doesn't appear to be 19th century master cutler quality to me.

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Originally Posted by onimaru55

Look like grind marks or file marks on the tang to me Roy but only got the pic to go on. :shrug:
That baby was definitely shortened. Should handle well round corners . :)

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Thanks Oz!

While I know that they 'could be grind marks, they are actually very deep! Even after the buffing I can sink my fingernail into them. As you said and a Joel said without the blade in hand it's hard to tell!

I just wish the picture showed the way the metal actually looks especially between the lines!!!:shrug: It doesn't look machined at all!

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Originally Posted by JoeLowett

With all do respect to your opinion on the subject, I too have my fair share of experience with metal work, and though I don't have the blade in hand I can honestly say I have seen grind wheel striations that look just like that. That type of blade likely would not have Been a candidate for pattern welding or steel layering during forging. Again just my opinion. Only so much you can tell for sure with out the blade in hand. As for the blade being a shortened regrind... Take a look at that barbers notch and the stabilizer- doesn't appear to be 19th century master cutler quality to me.

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Joel, I've noted every thing you've pointed out. What I believe what I'm wonder is not if some 19th century master made it or if it was hand made by just someone who knew how!

I find it very possible that it was either shortened or made to be that size!! The one thing that I've forgotten to say is that originally the barbers notch had NO machine marks! It looked like it had just come from a stamping! It was very rough!

I'll probably never know how or why this razor is the way it is, all I know is that it doesn't hone like typical Sheffield Steel nor does it shave like it and my Mate in the UK will be very pleased with not only the way it looks, but the way it shaves for him!

Looks kinda like when you draw file in the wrong direction or file with a dull or clogged file to me. I've more than once wished I'd stopped to wire brush the file instead of leaving a gouge in an otherwise flat and brilliant surface.

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Originally Posted by cudarunner

Joel, I've noted every thing you've pointed out. What I believe what I'm wonder is not if some 19th century master made it or if it was hand made by just someone who knew how!

I find it very possible that it was either shortened or made to be that size!! The one thing that I've forgotten to say is that originally the barbers notch had NO machine marks! It looked like it had just come from a stamping! It was very rough!

I'll probably never know how or why this razor is the way it is, all I know is that it doesn't hone like typical Sheffield Steel nor does it shave like it and my Mate in the UK will be very pleased with not only the way it looks, but the way it shaves for him!

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Ok.... Old school home made file razor? I can humor that!

Edit: a second look at the pic and it could be a file razor. Note the straight spine and straight tang, also the thickness of the tick.... I'm starting to like that theory.

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Originally Posted by cudarunner

Originally I'd thought same, however I've worked in a machine shop and my father was a veteran and accomplished machinist and those marks under the shank and extending to the tail are definitely NOT MACHINE MARKS!

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The marks on the tang and tail don't have to be related to the look of the razor. It definitely looks to be a shortened regrind to me.

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Originally Posted by jcline

Looks kinda like when you draw file in the wrong direction or file with a dull or clogged file to me. I've more than once wished I'd stopped to wire brush the file instead of leaving a gouge in an otherwise flat and brilliant surface.

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Something like that, yes.
This loos like a regrind / shortened razor to me.
The fact that there are no machine marks is really not that interesting.
First of all, it could have been done a long time ago, but even then, it would just be finished properly.
If I grind a razor, there ar eno machine marks left by the end either.