Thread: 1830's Edward Allison with fancy bone scales.

Thanks to this thread, I now know that I've got a museum-quality specimen here. In fact this one is in better condition than the one in the Artemas Ward collection. The main difference is that I have a better clue about its age than the folks looking after the collection, and mine is missing less of the original ornamentation.



The W(crown)R makes the date unequivocal. This razor, was made after 1830. The one in the museum probably not much before that.



The scales are slightly cracked, and there's a small piece missing on the pile side above the pivot.



Very few of the original pique work pins are missing. (8 are missing of probably 150 -- I only counted what was gone). The pins come in two sizes, roughly 0.3mm and 0.5mm, then there are the two larger shields (one of which is missing) and the long plate.

The blade has a hollow point and an unusual scalloped tang, not to mention that neat swaged spine (a feature I have a particular weakness for).

Edward Allison, Knife Grinder (and most likely maker of this razor), served 7 years of apprenticeship to Charles Milnes and was freed 1813. He was the son of Edward Allison, cutler and grinder who was apprenticed to his father, Edward Allison, horsecroft and husbandman who had also served an apprenticeship to a cutler (Thomas Osgathorpe).