Vintage Wade & Butcher Full Wedge "VR" NOS unused unsharpened - my first razor!!!

Ok I would like to know if anyone else has something similar to this, or has any Wade & Butcher in unused conditions.

Wade & Butcher Full Wedge 6/8 VR (Victoria Regina - 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901)
No mention of Sheffield or England = pre 1893

First a little personal history.
After two solid months of reading reading forums and studying eBay etc (I had red eyes more often than not) I was developing nervous ticks ;)
I really wanted to get my feet wet and so one sunday around 6 months ago I finally went out looking for my first razor.
I virtually had information dripping out of my ears from all the reading I had done on what to buy, what not to buy etc.
So I went to the first antique market closest to home. There were 2 razors sitting in display cabinets.
My heart stopped when I looked at the first. I thought it must be a fake. The seller said it was very old. He was right!
Wade & Butcher with turtle scales IN Barcelona Spain = Highly unlikely.
I was like a rabbit suddenly caught in the lights. My wife was dubious but I decided to take the chance.

The seller also recommended the second razor. It looked to be in excellent conditions with original case.
He said it was an excellent make from Spain, so I said to myself "in for a penny........."
The second razor was a Palmera No14 7/8 in excellent conditions!
I thought I had done well walking home but was thinking that a sucker punch was about to land anytime soon.

When I got home I started reading frantically looking for what I just bought.
It wasn´t until a few months later that I realised this W&B razor hasn´t ever been used, as far as I can tell.
For sure its not as beautiful as many W&Bs out there, but unused?

I have not sanded or polished it, just cleaned it with 96% alcohol and coated it with high grade Wahl machine oil.
The turtle scales have had a "few termite parties" over the years but are in otherwise great conditions.
At x20 magnification the edge looks like it came straight from Sheffield.
Apart from the very minor patina the mirror finish is just as it was when I got it.
Very interestingly there is No Jimping on the upper or lower tang.

So I am posting it now to get other opinions.
I consider this to be my rarest razor to date.


I have a gallery of hi-res photos to look at for your opinions:- http://img215.imagevenue.com/gallery...4569834-82.php




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All I can say is WOW ! That is a beautiful and a rare razor. I have a few in as nice a condition but regardless or what anyone may have that is a prize AFAIC. Congrats on your find.

I dont know much about w&b except that they are quite pricey and the steel in the pics looks really nice. But the scales, carved turtle in that condition? That look absolutley fantastic!! Congratulations! Its one jealous fellow eunthustiac right here! Sry about the spelling, midnight school-book swedish isnt what its suppose to be..

I read a post on another forum that jimping first appeard in the 1840s, which puts this razor at least 180+ years!
Considering that its amazing its survived in such good conditions, especially the scales.
virreslirre please don´t appologise for your spelling........my Sweedish sucks :P

That is definately a beaut!! You're one lucky man...congrats!

You lucky, lucky ba^%$rd!!
Well done on a great score.
I hope it shaves as good as it looks

Congrats! Can we see the Palmera too?

WOW! You found the centerpiece of your collection, congrats! Those scales are super cool, and the blade is in amazing condition.

You seem to have misunderstood some of the SRP protocols. You're supposed to spend days poking through shops, with the proprietors sneering at your inexperience and your weird desire for straight razors. Instead, you come up with pearls without even having to cast aside the swine. This is much like skipping to the "triple-dog-dare" without pausing at the double. I'm jealous and angry, of course.....not that this will surprise anyone.

That aint right! But it is cool! :nj Congrats and Kudos!