Thread: George Brittain "Acier Fondu" Razor

Thanks again Martin, either way, 200 years old, I'm going to tell myself 1797.... :-)

Now to read up on how to fill that gap in the scales, and clean this up without changing anything at all, leaving it as original as it is...no unpinning I guess, gentle hand sanding and some WD-40 possibly to get at the gunk in the pivot pin area...this one stays as original as I can leave it.

Had good success fixing the bug bites, with epoxy and horn dust from a left over piece.

So thanks for that info, Martin!
If I understand correctly, no such thing as a George Brittain?
Its Brittain, Wilkinson, and Brownell!

Originally Posted by sharptonn

So thanks for that info, Martin!
If I understand correctly, no such thing as a George Brittain?
Its Brittain, Wilkinson, and Brownell!

That is correct, The partnership was George Brittain, Jonathan Wilkinson, and Peter Brownell. Could never figure out as to why many claim to have a George Brittain razor.

Perhaps because they have GB upon them....
I suppose he was the principle partner ?

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Perhaps because they have GB upon them....
I suppose he was the principle partner ?

Yes that does make sense.

George Brittain likely did make razors early in his career, but that was in the 1760's.

The anchor mark was a generic one, and it really chaps my donkey that I have no idea what it signified.

It persisted for quite a while, and I've seen GB, Rodgers, Wade & Butcher and generic (warranted, cast steel, etc) versions. Most of them are big razors, but not all.

This is probably the most unusual one I've seen:



The scales are red translucent horn. The blade is etched "Fine Silver Steel" on the front and "Probe Gut"(!) on the pile side.

Hey Zak - so what do you think the date is on the OP GB?

interesting - I have an Anchor stamped blade that looks exactly like yours, no makers mark though, and another with a "fouled Anchor" by I. Barber.

And of course the requisite early W&B with the Anchor...heard everything from the made in Birmingham to they were sold at Ports specifically for Sailors.

I'd say that one is near the end of their run -- 1835-1840ish. I also just checked my Tweedale directory, and he records that the Brittain and Brownell families parted ways in the late 1830's and that the Brittain family continued producing edge tools under their own name (though the biz was being run by George's son, Verdon).

As for the anchor mark, all there are are guesses and until some period sources turn up, I don't place stock in any of them.

The mark is ancient. Here's an anchor stamped razor from the 15th-16th century, probably made in Germany.