Thread: Maybe not just another wade and butcher

Well, ok it is just another wade and butcher but it is like nothing I have seen. I was wondering how old this razor could be? It looks to be quite old but the font of the etching reminds me of 50 horror flicks. Is this a coincidence or was it produced around this time? Well I am pretty exited about this one and may have to get rid of my Wostenholme faux frameback.

Originally Posted by aboarder4life

Well, ok it is just another wade and butcher but it is like nothing I have seen. I was wondering how old this razor could be? It looks to be quite old but the font of the etching reminds me of 50 horror flicks. Is this a coincidence or was it produced around this time? Well I am pretty exited about this one and may have to get rid of my Wostenholme faux frameback.

Believe it or not, they were making those in 1860. But they kept making them for about 30 years, so your razor could have been made anywhere between 1860 or so and 1890.

When I first saw that I was really stuck by how modern it looks, too. But the style of typeface was in popular use a good deal longer than you'd think. Here's a nice history of the sans-serif style.

The blade grind was called a 'rattler' in the time. Unlike other grinds, those were made by running the blade lengthwise down the wheel.

Like most W&B's, it should be a fine, fine workhorse of a razor!

Thank you, that was very informative. Does the different grinding method give this razor any quirks or does it behave like any other hollow ground?

It'll hone a bit more like a traditional meaty Sheffield razor, but how tough the honing will be will have a lot to do with the condition of the edge. In terms of using it, it's not quite like a full hollow, but pretty close to half or 3/4 hollow.

That one is an early "Rattler". They hone up and shave like a wedge, but are lighter. Good one if in good shape!

There's no such thing as, "Just another Wade & Butcher".

They were among the first razors light enough to hear your whiskers being cut..therefore the name rattler. So I have been told.
The grinder wheel arrangement for that pattern specifically was patented in 1880. That style razor could have been made by a skilled craftsman with the normal 1 or 2 wheel grinder by feeding the razor 90º from the normal method.
~Richard