Thread: Irish razor

Hello all

There was a recent thread about straight razors from Ireland. This weekend, out shopping, I lucked into one. From my limited research, it looks like it was made by Richard Hurles in Enniskillen, in the northern part of Ireland. I really can date it too closely, but I'm guessing mid 1800's, based on a mention of his cutlery factory in a book called "Ireland, it's scenery, character and history" by S.C. Hall:

There is, however, a comparatively small establishment, the fame of which has gradually extended to very remote places we allude to the factory for cutlery, conducted by Mr. Richard Hurles. The knives and razors produced by him are said, by competent judges, to be of far greater excellence than those manufactured in any other town of the kingdom; they are supplied to persons aware of their value, in every part of the globe.

We were much interested by observing the number of women and girls who were employed in Enniskillen and its vicinity, in the ...

It's nearly a wedge, with a pretty good smile and fine jimping on top and bottom. The scales look like horn or bone and it has a lead wedge, so I don't really know if it's original.



It honed up pretty easily (for me at least) and gave me a pretty good shave this morning.

If anyone knows any more about the Hurles folks, I'd appreciate hearing about it.

cheers

joe in seattle

That's a nice looking razor.

Due to my Irish heritage, I would love to get my hands on a razor such as this. I hope you enjoy it thoroughly. Not to come off as a vulture, but please PM me if you ever decide to let it go. I have other razors I could trade for it.

Very interesting razor, Richard Hurles was surely highly regarded cutler, and a very early one as well.
This little article below about various Irish Cutlery.


And Richard Hurles tradecard from 1848.