W&B US Battleship

For your viewing pleasure.
So rare to come across a razor this old with such a perfect etch. The razor appears to never have been used and is now honed and ready for a test shave in the morning. The etch appears to be the USS Indiana BB-1 and the lead ship in her class of which there were only three. Commissioned in 1895 and considered obsolete by 1910 you can get a pretty good idea of the date of the razor. The USS Massachusetts BB-2 commissioned in 1896 and the USS Oregon BB-3 also commissioned in 1896.
The razor is a 5/8 near wedge grind with black hard rubber scales and brass pins and collars. The blade has a crocus finish typical of etched blades and a glazed finished tang.

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Really nice.
Faded, worn etching always upsets me :)

Beautiful blade, Karl.
Thanks for making me, ill. :cry:

Beautiful etching!
I have the same blade with same etching that needs scales. Mine has some hone wear and a few scratches, that one you have I would say is perfect.
Some day I plan on putting mine together with another I have from the same time frame, it says "you lather well and I'll shave well". More common than the ship.
Thank you for pointing out the time frame, I never tried to date it. That blade was used for at least 3 different blade etch designs that I have seen.

Outstanding! Thanks for sharing!

You really made me drool. Makes me feel like collecting fancy razors like that, just as pieces of art.