5 Attachment(s)
A Rather Unique Joesph Rodgers & Sons ( circa 1840's? )
I wanted to share this razor with you guys here at SRP...
A new Cali member here at SRP reached out to me and asked if I would hone up a razor for him that he had just picked up at his local Goodwill store. He sent it to me and it is an absolutely beautiful Joseph Rodgers...rather unique in that it has some really neat original file work on the spine.
It has "Improved Silver Steel" stamped on the blade face and a CROWN VR on the shank as well as the makers mark. Based on the blade profile ( a Spanish point profile very similar to many razors from the 1830's and 40's) I would guess somewhere around the 1840's although maybe some of the more knowledgeable guys around here might be able to make a more accurate guess.
The scales are not original. They appear to be made of wood...I believe Ash, and obviously they were replaced some time ago, but they are well fitted.
Anyway...to me, it is such a beautiful razor (although with quite a bit of uneven hone wear on both sides of the blade) that I couldn't resist polishing up the blade and the scales just a tad before I honed it up. I set the blade edge profile with only one layer of tape, set the bevel and went through my typical Coticule/Escher honing sequence that I use for most every Sheffield blade.
I just finished the test shave, and all I can say is 'Sheffield Smooth'! A really beautiful shaver! That and I wish it were mine to keep...
Here's some pics:
Attachment 184682Attachment 184683Attachment 184684Attachment 184685Attachment 184686
P.S. I'm just now getting ready to take a trip to my local Goodwill! :rofl2: