I shall call him... Mini-Me! *dun*dun*

Probably the smallest straight razor I have ever seen, it is perfectly proportionate to the typical Sheffield wedge just on a much smaller scale, like 1:3. Marked "Wells, 431 Strand" on the tang and having genuine tortoiseshell scales, I presume it to be a late 1800s production razor.

I did hone it which was actually quite easy to do though I couldn't quite get the bevel set right out to the tip. It was more difficult to strop because it was so light and while shaving I could barely do two small strokes before the blade was just overflowing with lather.

I honestly can't see anyone actually using this razor for a full shave. I have several examples of other travel razors but this one is just on another scale smaller and feels more like a toy to be honest.

Attachment 205311

Attachment 205312

More photos in this imgur album.

that is a rather flash mini for sure.
I love how it is all to scale

these are Corn Razors is my understanding
I have a wee rat also, it is a KRUSO Wedge
Attachment 205317

I have a messed up set of mini Mappin and Web razors that are in pieces, and some of them are less than desirable. I presume the same size. I could;t figure out why anyone would make a seven set of travel razors. When I get to them there will be three or four survivors. I though they were going to be full sized, and though some of the blades that could not be used could just have the scales reused however they are too small. I am intrigued by the little razors. That one looks like it has pretty amazing little scales. I also like the St. James of London products.

Very nice. The smallest razor that I have is 2 1/4 inches long. The small razors are nice for detail work. What is the size of that one. Looks like it is maybe 1 1/2 inches.

That is an interesting blade, but like you mention I don't see it being very useful. Maybe just for trim work?

Would work good for trimming sideburns, neckline, or moustache. Neat to own, even if it doesn't get used much.

I think these little ones are indeed corn razors. As sold by retailers, such as Wells on Strand, I wonder if it was not part of a grooming set. The little fella would be exactly like it's big brother in the set.
In any rate, I don't think much of smaller razors being called 'travel' razors.
Could not save much weight and space over a regular-sized one?
A nice little razor, that one! ;)

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Originally Posted by RezDog

a seven set of travel razors.

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I'd like to see a photo of that 7-day set, even if most of the blades are in poor condition. I've seen photos of a Mab 7-day set but haven't heard of a Mappin & Webb travel razor, much less seven.

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Originally Posted by JSmith1983

Very nice. The smallest razor that I have is 2 1/4 inches long. The small razors are nice for detail work. What is the size of that one. Looks like it is maybe 1 1/2 inches.

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How are you measuring yours? The length of the cutting edge, from heel to toe, on mine is about 1 7/8 inch. From pivot pin to wedge pin is right at 3 inches, and the absolute longest length, from tip of the tail to the wedge end of the scales, is a bit under 4 inches.

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

I think these little ones are indeed corn razors. As sold by retailers, such as Wells on Strand, I wonder if it was not part of a grooming set. The little fella would be exactly like it's big brother in the set.
In any rate, I don't think much of smaller razors being called 'travel' razors.
Could not save much weight and space over a regular-sized one?
A nice little razor, that one! ;)

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I usually think of the corn razors as like the one Substance posted a photo of above, razors that can't be opened all the way. The one I have is so small that maybe it is intended just for cutting corns, maybe it did originally come in a set with a big brother that was for face shaving. It just surprised me that this little guy is so small but looks identical in all proportions to the full sized Sheffield wedges.

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Originally Posted by goldragon

I usually think of the corn razors as like the one Substance posted a photo of above, razors that can't be opened all the way. The one I have is so small that maybe it is intended just for cutting corns, maybe it did originally come in a set with a big brother that was for face shaving. It just surprised me that this little guy is so small but looks identical in all proportions to the full sized Sheffield wedges.

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My thoughts are it is much, much older than Substance's example. I figure your's from the 1850's or so.
His has a 'nail-digger' on the tang which also restricts opening. A flat edge. 20th century? Many old corn razors actually have frowning edges.
I suppose as cutting off a corn, a frown was nice?

Anyway, it is an accurate 'miniature' razor. I wonder if the ladies favored them?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by goldragon

I'd like to see a photo of that 7-day set, even if most of the blades are in poor condition. I've seen photos of a Mab 7-day set but haven't heard of a Mappin & Webb travel razor, much less seven.

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Here is what is left of the set. They were shipped in the seven day set box but nothing inside the box was wrapped or secured. Two razors and the inside of the box were destroyed in shipping, plus they were not all great to begin with.
Attachment 205321
The other though I had was perhaps these were ladies razors. I am truly guessing. I cannot imagine a set of seven corn razors.

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

My thoughts are it is much, much older than Substance's example. I figure your's from the 1850's or so.
His has a 'nail-digger' on the tang which also restricts opening. A flat edge. 20th century? Many old corn razors actually have frowning edges.
I suppose as cutting off a corn, a frown was nice?

Anyway, it is an accurate 'miniature' razor. I wonder if the ladies favored them?

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Plucked: A History of Hair Removal by Rebecca Herzig

Shaving

"The ancient Egyptians were known to shave hair from their entire bodies but Western culture did not take up shaving of body hair until early into the 20th century. Sure, Western man has been shaving their face for centuries and hair could be cut short for various reasons but nobody on any large scale removed their body hair. It is a matter of fact that in the early 20th century women began shaving as a response to a massive advertising campaign started by razor companies. This in combination with a culture that started to bare more of the feminine body was responsible for many women to take up the habit of grooming their body hair. So, it is safe to say that 19th century women came the way puberty made them."
Quote from the introduction to a Senior Thesis by Kirsten Hansen
I'll bet there is someone, possibly more than one, on this Forum that knows about women's hair removal in 19th century England...it would save me from purchasing the book or hunting one down in the Library system here.
The title and author in bold above is a recent publication.
The dearth of such HO gauge razors compared to a standard size razor would seem to suggest that their popularity or practical use was limited. Is there a little razor club? I'll go check.

So it would seem that some liked small razors! As a small person or for trimming, corns, whatever?

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

So it would seem that some liked small razors! As a small person or for trimming, corns, whatever?

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Or a few were made for small people with corns.
Trimming corns....I don't hear much about that anymore....like lumbago, what the hell has happened to us that we can't talk about trimming corns and lumbago....we talk about everything else. Personally I have never had or seen a corn nor do I want to, but if I had one I'd probably use the same technique I applied to a planters wart...single edged blade. Maybe no one has corns? Wait, it seems like I have seen a corn trimmer in the Dr. Scholl's section of a pharmacy. Once I had a massive wound on the inside of my right forearm due to a dopamine shot that was delivered to the muscle (missed the vein). The wound ostomy specialist was too far away to drive for treatment of the wound which was essentially rotting flesh over about a 6"x3" area of the forearm. At one point during the healing, I started to get granulations (mounds of grainy flesh about 1/3rd the size of a green grape).
These were supposed to come off so I got some disposable scalpels and cut them off myself which was very weird....they were dead as far as nerves but bled....now back to the small razor....have you seen many show up over the years? Are they as rare as those giant ones? Did the travel sets contain a full size razor and a smaller one?

Interesting razor. Those scales look great. I would really like to have one with tortoise shell scales.

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Originally Posted by goldragon

How are you measuring yours? The length of the cutting edge, from heel to toe, on mine is about 1 7/8 inch. From pivot pin to wedge pin is right at 3 inches, and the absolute longest length, from tip of the tail to the wedge end of the scales, is a bit under 4 inches.

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Yea I measured from heal to toe.

Here are some little fellows. Left to right, a teeny Henckels corn razor, a Hejestrand, Wm Temporal, Jos Rodgers, Mab, And Maw, Son, and Sons, which was part of a surgical set.

Attachment 205357

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Originally Posted by JSmith1983

Yea I measured from heal to toe.

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The Mappin and Webb's are 2 1/2" heel to toe.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

So it would seem that some liked small razors! As a small person or for trimming, corns, whatever?

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Or for dwarfs?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

Here are some little fellows. Left to right, a teeny Henckels corn razor, a Hejestrand, Wm Temporal, Jos Rodgers, Mab, And Maw, Son, and Sons, which was part of a surgical set.

Attachment 205357

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I didn't know you had one of the Maw & Sons surgical razors! Does yours have the broad arrow on the pile-side?

(I'm guessing that's what Gold Dragon's razor is -- a surgical prep razor)

I have always thought a corn razor was for detasseling corn.....:hmmm:

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Originally Posted by Voidmonster

I didn't know you had one of the Maw & Sons surgical razors! Does yours have the broad arrow on the pile-side?

(I'm guessing that's what Gold Dragon's razor is -- a surgical prep razor)

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I will look to see about the arrow, yet I do not remember it. A neat, tight little jewel!
Does not really tarnish? German Silver, I think.

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

I will look to see about the arrow, yet I do not remember it. A neat, tight little jewel!
Does not really tarnish? German Silver, I think.

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The scales, at least. The blade on mine is pitted. Took a killer edge though! It may be tiny, but it's fun to shave with.

Definitely German silver scales, heavy on the copper in the alloy.

I just looked over at this thread. :gaah:

Apparently I *did* know you had one.

I'm losin' my edge, man! I can't remember every piece in everyone else's collection anymore!

Gawd! I had forgotten about that! :)

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

Gawd! I had forgotten about that! :)

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I searched for it because I knew I'd posted pictures, but I had this sneaky suspicion that you'd commented.

I have often wanted to hone it up and see! Now, my curiosity is up. Especially on it and the Mab. They always looked likely!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

I have often wanted to hone it up and see! Now, my curiosity is up. Especially on it and the Mab. They always looked likely!

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The Mab I've got never took quite as good an edge as I thought it should, but it had some really nasty pitting that was only down in the bevel. I should probably give it another go and work further back. I love the leaf-shaped blades.

The Maw & Sons honed without any fuss and provided a surgically sharp edge.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Voidmonster

I didn't know you had one of the Maw & Sons surgical razors! Does yours have the broad arrow on the pile-side?

(I'm guessing that's what Gold Dragon's razor is -- a surgical prep razor)

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Yep! The arrow is there!

Attachment 205746

I suppose it now goes into the 'Zak' Pile! ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by goldragon

Probably the smallest straight razor I have ever seen, it is perfectly proportionate to the typical Sheffield wedge just on a much smaller scale, like 1:3. Marked "Wells, 431 Strand" on the tang and having genuine tortoiseshell scales, I presume it to be a late 1800s production razor.

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Wow! Thats awesome, seen a number of small ones but not mini-me-sheffield-wedges! Gonna have to keep my eye open for one, probably rare. ... ... "For those REALLY hard to get spots never meant to be shaven" hehehe :D

Superb razor anyway :)

Got one of those mini razors, it shaves well. Just need a little more time to perform the whole thing. :)