Thread: Donnan & Dunn Wade & Butchers Celebrated Double Swaged Concave Razor

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Interesting question. I don't know the answer but I wonder if it might be some sort of huge press with a die to form the contours of the blade ..... similar to swagging a bullet ?

Yea, was wondering the same thing but I just can't picture it.

Bob

In this context, 'swaged' just means 'tapered'.

For the regular part of the grinding, the wheel is spinning away from the grinder. He places the blade flat on the top with the edge pointing the direction the wheel's spinning, so the wheel moves spine-to-edge.

To swage them, they held the blade sideways and cut lengthwise.

Curiosity killed the cat so I went googling and found swage: definition of swage in Oxford dictionary (British & World English) . Under origins it mentions "decorative groove" from Old French "souage". From that I would take that a swaged razor blade is a grooved blade.

Bob

Really nice blade !!

Certainly not a common Wade & Butcher for sure, the ratller blade grind and stamping are really interesting. Furthermore about "Donnan & Dunn", found a couple of registration for this importer in the late 1830's. Also found advertising from 1851 from "Dunn & Spencer" importer of English cutlery and its cleary stated that they are the successor to Donnan & Dunn, so no doubt this razor is before 1851.

Wow, thanks for all of the great info! I can't wait to get this cleaned up and shaving!

I've got a Wade & Butcher that is very similar!





So with "Donnan" and a (different) city in Virginia I think they both must have been made on special order for the same retailer but at different times after some merger/split in ownership. Even the grinds are quite similar but I call mine a "concave grind" based on the SRP wiki though you could also call it a faux frameback I suppose. I just love the patina built up on my blade and it shaves pretty well though it is quite stiff.

If you go to the Shaving Collectibles Meeting next year bring your razor and I will bring mine and we can compare them in person!

Nice score...

It's interesting just how similar both blades are. Thanks for posting, and yes, I plan on attending the Cincinnati Shaving Collectables Extravaganza next year. I will certainly be bringing mine along!

Originally Posted by Voidmonster

In this context, 'swaged' just means 'tapered'.

For the regular part of the grinding, the wheel is spinning away from the grinder. He places the blade flat on the top with the edge pointing the direction the wheel's spinning, so the wheel moves spine-to-edge.

To swage them, they held the blade sideways and cut lengthwise.

How old would you say these types of razors are?