Thread: Wade and Butcher For Barbers Use WR - a rare one

Alot of razors are ground with two wheels, one on each side of the razor and the worker moves the razor back and forth. Those lines could be from someone with a not so steady head and shifting the razor or from inconsistency in the wheels as well as other factors. Some newer razors are made from belts, whether it be one on each side or just one free handed. Seems to be easier to get more even grinding when done with two or if machines are controlling the grinding and only doing one side at a time.

As for the old ones, there were different finishes, most notable crocus and glaze, where glaze was not the kind of mirror smooth surface that crocus gave. It's common to see, for example, the two different finishes juxtaposed on the blade face and tang, but on the long cuts I have seen the finish on the blade continues into the long cut. Zak / Martin / Neil know far more than I and could elaborate here.

One way or the other ....... sweet piece.

Originally Posted by ScienceGuy

As for the old ones, there were different finishes, most notable crocus and glaze, where glaze was not the kind of mirror smooth surface that crocus gave. It's common to see, for example, the two different finishes juxtaposed on the blade face and tang, but on the long cuts I have seen the finish on the blade continues into the long cut. Zak / Martin / Neil know far more than I and could elaborate here.

Actually quite common in the cutlery trade, pocket knives especially. The mark side would be all smooth and shiny crocus, whilst the pile side would be glaze.

Probably saved time and therefor money to do 'em that way.

Originally Posted by Wullie

Actually quite common in the cutlery trade, pocket knives especially. The mark side would be all smooth and shiny crocus, whilst the pile side would be glaze.

Probably saved time and therefor money to do 'em that way.

I got out a few of my old Sheffields to see if I could find grind lines ...... they are easily seen on the pile side (if you hold them to the light at an angle and look through a magnifying glass). Never noticed before.

Originally Posted by Wullie

Actually quite common in the cutlery trade, pocket knives especially. The mark side would be all smooth and shiny crocus, whilst the pile side would be glaze.

Probably saved time and therefor money to do 'em that way.

I have a Boker that is crocus polished on one side and the other isn't. They had another model that was the exact same razor, but was crocus on both sides. Subtle changes allow a company to advertise many different razors even though they are the same.

Nice old W & B

Originally Posted by Steel

I know very little about this so a question- "the vertical lines are from a grinder? Did they ever look like this from being ground by hand on a grinding wheel?"

I have a few older blades that have these faint lines too. Does that automatically mean they were re-ground? Or is it because the lines go in the seam between blade and tang?

I have seen faint lines like that from an original grind. If that is a regrind, it was very, very lightly touched. I seriously doubt it is a regrind, there isn't even a shoulder on the blade. Like i said, if it was re-touched, it was done very lightly. It could be crocus polished, that isn't impossible but I agree with Zak, it is really hard to say.