Thread: Finally founf a stub tail

Been looking for a stub tail for a while now and was able to pick this one up. No clue who the makers is. Someone has already cleaned it up a bit so I'll leave it as is and see if I can set an edge on it. It came with a coffin but I don't know if it is the original especially since it is in decent condition.

Bob

Nice score.

My eyes are not what they used to be but is the bottom word WADE?

Originally Posted by bouschie

My eyes are not what they used to be but is the bottom word WADE?

All I can make out with my loupe is:

Top line - C or G OL and possibly an I

Bottom line - WA and possibly R

My eyes are not that good anymore either.

Bob

Maybe the bottom line says warranted. I have a stubtail and that is the only mark on it. Looks awesome, hope it shaves as good as mine!

Great! Always nice to have a stub or two in the shave den.

Way to go

Originally Posted by BobH

Been looking for a stub tail for a while now and was able to pick this one up. No clue who the makers is. Someone has already cleaned it up a bit so I'll leave it as is and see if I can set an edge on it. It came with a coffin but I don't know if it is the original especially since it is in decent condition.

Bob

I'm thinking the box isn't what the razor came in, because I can't get any variety of SMITH out of that mark.

The razor itself is what I call the 'Ne Plus Ultra' style.

The name comes from the so-called Smith's Key, a book which was compiled for unknown purposes (though most likely as a catalog of etchings for use in advertisement) sometime between 1814 and 1816. The book includes illustrations of the many, many tools produced in Sheffield, with an emphasis on the ones made by James Cam and/or Marshes & Shephard.

There are two types of razors with the same basic blade pattern or design (though there were a lot of variations in ornamentation from one manufacturer to another). Large versions were etched 'Magnum Bonum' on the top of the spine and smaller ones were 'Ne Plus Ultra'. These marketing slogans persisted for many, many years, but very quickly lost association with any particular style. By no means were all the razors in this basic style etched with one of the slogans, but very many were. If you closely examine the top of the spine you might find a hint of an old etch. It probably said 'Ne Plus Ultra'.

As for the manufacturer, I'd need to see a closeup of the tang. I can't immediately place whose stamp that might have been. The second line is definitely 'WARRANTED', though.

I've seen examples of both from about 1810 to 1820ish. I'd say yours falls in the 1810-1815 range just based on my gut feeling.

My guts are pretty well calibrated, but by no means infallible.

Zak

Thank you very much for that additional information. It is much appreciated.

Bob

Nice find, the Smith, Scarborough case is likely from a retailer, Scarborough is a resort on the east coast.
A bigger photo of the tang stamp would be nice to see