Thread: Stierlin scrimshaw razor, possible harpoon blade?

Hey guys, thanks to everyone who commented on my recent post about the Joseph Rodgers scissor tail razor. It was great to get some info on such an unusual razor.

I have another unusual razor to show you guys and see what info you might have on it. This razor is stamped "Stierlin" on the tang and the tang itself is an unusual S-curve. The blade grind is the closest thing I have ever had to a true wedge. I have laid a ruler along the side from spine to edge and I can see no daylight between the ruler and the blade.

The most unusual feature however are the three holes drilled into the blade along the spine. The seller told me that he had been told the razor might possibly have been made from a harpoon blade like on a whaling ship and that the holes would have been used to lash the blade to the pole. This might have been a tall tale thrown in to pique my interest or the seller might have honestly believed it himself, I don't know.

I will say that the material for the scales is definitely a type of ivory however the grain doesn't look like most of my other ivory scaled razors (which should be the typical elephant ivory). The grain of the ivory appears to be tighter and parts of it have taken on a more brownish color rather than the usual white or golden yellow. I wonder if the ivory might be walrus tusk, perhaps lending some credence to the harpoon blade story? Also the scales have been scrimshawed (though I can't make heads nor tails of the intended design) and weren't sailors known for scrimshawing items to pass the time on long voyages at sea?

If anyone has info on a maker of razors named "Stierlin" or any other explanation for the holes along the spine I would be glad to hear it. You can find more and higher resolution photos at this online photo album.

I can't turn up anything plausible on Stierlin. The name is most commonly German, with some Swiss folks.

My intuition is that it was made in America in the latter half of the 19th century.

The holes in the spine were emphatically not because it was made from a harpoon.

What it was was a frameback and it's missing the frame.

It's quite a striking razor under all that pitting. It might even be put into service, but you'll need to make a new frame for it unless you want a bevel a mile wide.

Scales of that shape were uncommon, but not unheard of -- though those look vaguely amateurish, so maybe they were made by whoever scrimmed them.

The images on the scales are pictures of mermaids, so there's a definite nautical theme. It may well be non-elephant ivory.

But it definitely wasn't made from a harpoon. Harpoons don't have jimps.

Originally Posted by Voidmonster

What it was was a frameback and it's missing the frame.

Ah, that makes much more sense than the harpoon story. I never really thought about how the rolled spines were attached on that style of frameback razors. I suppose I just thought they were somehow welded on while hot from the forge.

And the scales do have a slight gunstock shape but also a handmade look so perhaps they were replacements made by the owner.

I'm not sure if I will try to put an edge on this one or just keep it as is. The pitting does [not] really go down to the edge so I think it could take an edge. I might try 3-4 layers of electrical tape and see how big the bevel might be and decide to hone it all the way.

Originally Posted by goldragon

Ah, that makes much more sense than the harpoon story. I never really thought about how the rolled spines were attached on that style of frameback razors. I suppose I just thought they were somehow welded on while hot from the forge.

They're usually just crimped on, actually.

I'd recommend against trying to hone it with just tape. The blade wasn't designed for a bevel angle that shallow, and you'll get an unpleasant edge if you ever manage to get one at all.

The holes in the spine were emphatically not because it was made from a harpoon.

What it was was a frameback and it's missing the frame.

I agree with Voidmonster, it was not a harpoon blade because of the jumps.

I also agree with him if you try to hone it. It needs the frame back on it to do it right.

Those are defiantly mermaids they jump right out at me as far as the blade I have no clue but if I had to guess I also would think it was a frame back at one time

Whatever the scale material, It might be rust staining causing that pattern up around the tang. A cool display, for certain.

Originally Posted by Slamthunderide

Those are defiantly mermaids they jump right out at me

I suppose I have to remember these scrimshaw mermaids were done by the same sailors that thought manatees were beautiful women with fish tails lol.

Well you know, Ahab had his razors melted down into a harpoon point, so why not the other way around?

James.

Originally Posted by goldragon

I suppose I have to remember these scrimshaw mermaids were done by the same sailors that thought manatees were beautiful women with fish tails lol.

Anyone that spends there life at sea would think anything was beautiful, I spent 2 years on an off at sea and at that time Female didn't serve on Sea Duty, the longest time I ever spent out at sea was over 100 Daze and was glad to pull into port but never have I seen any sea creature that I was attracted to but I was a Marine and not a Sailor and some Sailors can be a little bit Lets say strange!!!!