Thread: 3/4+ Joseph Rodgers & Sons Cutlers Sheffield Near Wedge

Found this one in France and I couldn't pass it up.

A 3/4+ (.78) Round point Joseph Rodgers (&) Sons Cutlers Sheffield near wedge.
Pointed, horn scales that are slightly curved. Definitely has small jimps or flutting on top.
Maybe on the bottom as well. From the photos I don't see any active rust. Beautiful lines and curves.

The odd thing (for me) was the stamp on the tang. It didn't say Cutlers To Their Majesties. Just Cutlers. I've been searching around to see if I could find another one with similar markings. I even searched through the sub forum Jolly Rodgers. Maybe this razor belongs their as well?

Research that I found about Joseph Rodgers states "Around 1800, Rodgers’ product range broadened into razors, table cutlery and scissors and in 1821 the firm was appointed cutlers to The Royal Family for the first time."

Could this razor have been made between 1800- 1821?

Info here describes a "few key things" to look for when dating a vintage razor. The first section describes "features" of the 1800's - 1830's. Wedge grind, flutting, slightly curved scales, introduction of the shoulder and introduction to the "Monarch"




Here's what the original listing read:

Coupe chou JOSEPH RODGERS
SONS CUTLERS
SHEFFIELD

Chasses d origine CORNES

ETUI EN CUIR AVEC FERMETURE

Longueur fermé : 167 mm
longueur tranchant :74 mm
largeur tranchant : 20 mm

regardez mes autres rasoirs
il y en a pour tout les goûts et tout les prix

paiement cheque accepté si profil superieur a 20

Photos sur demande

STRAIGHT RAZOR JOSEPH RODGERS
SONS CUTLERS
SHEFFIELD

Hunts of origin CORNES

LEATHER CASE WITH CLOSURE

Closed length: 167 mm
cutting length: 74 mm
cutting width: 20 mm

Thanks for looking

Cheetah

Thinking about this now. Those scales seem to be in too good of condition for a 200 year old razor. Not sure. Maybe they are replacements or restored. I will ask the seller.

Its quite possible they are, if the pouch is leather, and has been kept oiled to keep its suppleness. It may have transfered to the scales, as well as for the condition of the blade, which looks very good as well.

TBH, it looks like a French razor. Perhaps made for the French market?

Originally Posted by outback

Its quite possible they are, if the pouch is leather, and has been kept oiled to keep its suppleness. It may have transfered to the scales, as well as for the condition of the blade, which looks very good as well.

I never thought of it that way, regarding the scales. That makes total sense. I'll really have to get in there with a fine tooth comb when the blade comes but definitely from the photos the blade does look GOOD!

Thanks for the feed back.

Originally Posted by sharptonn

TBH, it looks like a French razor. Perhaps made for the French market?

Go on.....I'm listening...lol

Can anyone help with age verification of this and has anyone seen a Joseph Rodgers stamp like this before.

In the Jolly Rodgers sub forum there is one blade that looks similar. It is a round point as well but the tail is more robust. I can't read the tang cause the photo is blurry. Page 12

Thanks

CMP

Not that I am an expert but from threads with a lot of historical information in them has left me feeling like the tail is not correct for a razor from pre 1821. The absence of the monarch endorsement is puzzling.

The "Cutlers to Their Majesties" mark refers to the fact that Joseph Rodgers & Sons won royal appointments under multiple monarchs, starting with George IV in 1820. (In fact, they were appointed royal cutlers five times in succession). So the earliest possible date they could have claimed to be cutlers to plural majesties would have been during the reign of William IV 1830-1837. Of course, Rodgers may not have started using the mark till even later than that....

Without knowing when exactly Rodgers cooked up the idea to start advertising their multiple royal appointments in the form of tang stamps, I'd probably date your razor between 1830-1840. (Victoria succeeded to the throne in 1837, and if Rodgers hadn't started using the "Cutlers to Their Majesties" mark during William IV's reign, they were certainly using it during Victoria's reign).

Originally Posted by outback

Its quite possible they are, if the pouch is leather, and has been kept oiled to keep its suppleness. It may have transfered to the scales, as well as for the condition of the blade, which looks very good as well.

Hey Outback,

I just heard back from the seller about the condition of the scales.
This is what he had to say:

"Hello
Joseph Rodgers began the razors early 1800, this one should rather date from the end of 19 th. Before 1901, because after the razor were marked England on silk. the scales are d-origins, I do not redo the scales. I clean the razors with the hands without machine and leave them entirely of origin.
I think it has been well preserved in its leather case.
I'll be in New York next week, I could almost have delivered it to you by hand.
I wish you a good day. cordially"