Thread: 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:




P.S. I'm just now getting ready to take a trip to my local Goodwill!

Looking good buddy. You're right, unique looking spine work there. Kinda looks like a tap.
Beautiful razor.

Originally Posted by RoyalCake

Looking good buddy. You're right, unique looking spine work there. Kinda looks like a tap.
Beautiful razor.

A 'Tap'...Yeah...that's what I thought! It is a real beauty, and it just happens to be one of my favorite blade profiles. I love that time period.

I have a pair of old Sheffields which have top jimps similar on the top tang. I think this blade was part of a pair or a set FME.
Nice razor!

Very unique blade. I have never seen one like that!

Excellent job. I like the scales, original or not.

The spine is different. I also thought "tap" when I first saw the pic.

I would be proud to put that beauty in my rotation.

Originally Posted by sharptonn

I have a pair of old Sheffields which have top jimps similar on the top tang. I think this blade was part of a pair or a set FME.
Nice razor!

Hey Tom! Your comment made me take a closer look at the spine on the front blade face. The Part of the spine that is squared off like a plate for engraving. Very faintly, yet barely visible with a 30 x loupe is a design at both ends with a 'Number 2' in the center.

Good call Tom...this was a set of Two at one time.

I'm the owner, and really happy with the job Wolfpack did on this. Here's what it looked like when I bought it:

Originally Posted by ctgill

I'm the owner, and really happy with the job Wolfpack did on this. Here's what it looked like when I bought it:

It was a real pleasure Ctgill...and once again welcome to SRP!

Very nice. I saw that one on the goodwill site and totally forgot to put a bid in. Enjoy it.