Thread: Name Chasing

This was listed on the bay as being stamped P.Dewsnap which didn't jibe with the 1787 Gales and Martin listing of Francis Dewsnap. That the FARQH doesn't jibe with the Dewsnap FARA mark as noted in G&M was interesting also. Even with a 16x loupe it was difficult to distinguish the "F", but once a small amount of rust was removed, and the blade scrutinized with a stereo microscope, the serifs of the "F" compared with the ending "P" in the same line of type became apparent. So correctly, a Francis Dewsnap razor with a FARQH mark. I assume that the mark changed after 1787. Also, thIS is the second early razor that I have gotten that sports these single pin, beveled or faceted wood handles. Any information on the FARQH mark and the beveled wood will be appreciated.

I would hope the mods will place this into the "Stub tailed" thread!
~Ricahrd

It's not at all uncommon to find that the marks on actual razors differ from how they're recorded in Gales & Martin's.

That's definitely Francis Dewsnap.

He was apprenticed by his father, William and freed in 1776, and then apprenticed his son, Charles, who was freed in 1804. So without doubt active during the period of the Gales & Martin directory.

He's not listed in Sketchley's, but that's to be expected.

It's hard to say if the scales are original or not. I lean toward not, simply because wood scales are distinctly unusual and unless the pins & collars look unassailably original, I assume they were homemade. Those pins & collars don't look particularly original to me.

In my opinion, this razor was likely made between 1780 and 1800 and it has probably been rescaled.

Thanks for the extra info Zak. I also assumed that the scales were a redo, but was interested in seeing if anyone else had run into this particular style as they are so close to my other one, that one would be tempted to think that one person did both, but I don't know when. The other razor is a Marshes and Shepherd with GR and crown so it may just have been a nifty and thrifty solution at a later date. Agreed that wood would be very unusual as an original material for this period. Maybe it was Pineknot & Oak, re-scalers to the crown...........