Thread: Curley Sheffield Straight Razor-Complete

Here is my Curley Sheffield straight razor complete with the tail on it. As some of you know, I showed it recently w/o the tail & I didn't know much about them until I was informed by JimmyWetshaver that the tail section was missing along with the lower jimps. After that I thought I looked on the bay but didn't see one unless one was put on after I looked but gooser wrote me with a link to one so I waited for it & won it. The scales were broken on it so when I got it, I took it apart & used parts from one to complete the other one. The other one I won was rough but I sanded the spine assembly & the tail & jimp pieces in progressions from 240, 280, 320, 360, 400, 500, 600, 1000, 1200, 1500, 2000, 2500 on up to 3000 grit, then polished them on my buffing wheel in the garage.
Here it is before:




Here are the after pics:


Of course I used the original blade since it was cleaner but I plan to clean the other blade up & I'll have an extra blade for this razor. The lower jimps lock the guard in place. The patent dates on this spine assembly were already partially worn off, but it said the same thing as the blade, Sept. 21- 86.
I have said this before & I'll more than likely say it again. I not one of those people who thinks they know it all, I learn something new everyday!

Special thanks to JimmyWetshaver, gooser & Slamthunderide for their previous comments in my other thread on this Sheffield version of the Curley straight razor. There is also a USA version of it.

Very nice restore Steve.

Originally Posted by celticcrusader

Very nice restore Steve.

Thank you very much Jamie! It came out better than I thought it would. I was sanding the pieces down & I wasn't happy with them because at first I started with 1000 grit & there was pitting, so I started back over on the sanding with 240 grit on up & I got the tail & lower jimps along with the spine assembly a lot smoother & it polished out well.

That is AWESOME!
What an interesting razor.
I REALLY like it!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Chevhead

That is AWESOME!
What an interesting razor.
I REALLY like it!!!!!!!

Thank you very much Chevhead!

That is a great bit of work. I see it does not have the adjustable guide of the American model; may be better for it though. Yours is the earliest patent date that I have seen.
Nicely done!
~Richard

Beautiful Job and nice work. Many would have simply given up on this razor, you did not. Great work saving this one! Kudos!
Thank You very much for the kind words as well.

Great restore! Really interesting razor.

Originally Posted by Geezer

That is a great bit of work. I see it does not have the adjustable guide of the American model; may be better for it though. Yours is the earliest patent date that I have seen.
Nicely done!
~Richard

Thank you very much Richard. Although the patent date goes back as far as September 21, 1886, I would have to assume this one to be a post 1891 since it says England on it but at the same time, they may have used England instead of Sheffield. I would like to do more research on this piece. I have only found J. Curley & Bro. Fine Steel (1864-1921), J. Curley & Brother New York (1864-1921), Curley & Brother New York (1864-1921)

James Curley founded the firm in 1860 & in 1864 brother Terence F. Curley was given interest in the company which became J. Curley & Brother. James died in 1878 & his brother continued their company until he retired in 1913. James Russell Curley, Terence's son continued the business for a few more years & in 1917 the firm was located on Johnson Street, Brooklyn, NY but was later located at 87 Duane Street, New York City & used a trademarks, "Hello Boys" & "Foxy Grandpa" which was stamped in ink on the handles of all metal knives, master blades of pocket knives, as well as the wrappers & packages. From the photo, you can see where the American models used the "Ideal" marking on them.

Nicely done!