Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 13
Like Tree8Likes

Thread: Pygmlian's disease: in which Zak fixes every ugly duckling he can find.

  1. #1
    Captain ARAD. Voidmonster's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Pacifica, CA
    Posts
    2,474
    Thanked: 2226

    Default Pygmlian's disease: in which Zak fixes every ugly duckling he can find.



    ScienceGuy tipped me to this one, since I'm always willing to throw a few bucks at oddities in search of the hidden gem.

    What we have here is a straight razor that's been... modified.



    It looks like someone glued it into a hickory handle a very long time ago, wrapped tape around the wood and kept using it as a razor. Kamisori, farm-style!

    What caught my eye was the squared back, the swaged spine and that 'superior refined steel' stamp. I guessed 1820's.



    The stamp looked suspiciously similar to a Joseph Rodgers I'd seen a while back, so I nabbed it. To my astonishment, there were three other bidders!

    With something like this there's no telling what you'll find when (and if!) you get to the maker's stamp.

    Upon arrival, I took pictures, got out the coping saw, the Dremel, the chisels, the hammer, and the pincers.

    The tape came off easily. The wood did not. The glue went most of the way down. I had to cross-section and pince and prize and tap and hammer to get it all off. The first part to become visible was a very neatly cut thumb notch and bottom jimping. I was careful not to saw deeply enough to hit the metal. Finally I got the whole thing to crack in half and there it was, a complete blade, tang, and tail. But the stamp was unreadable because it was covered in glue and oxidation.

    Out came the sanding tools and here's what I was left with. It isn't what I thought it was, it's quite a bit more unusual!



    And the tang stamp...



    1820's MAUDE.

    I can only find reference to one other, over here.

    Maude doesn't turn up in the trade directories of Sheffield. Tweedale has no entry. The last Maude listed in the History of the Cutler's Company of Hallamshire was in 1680.

    There are a few tantalizing clues: a son named John born to Harriet & John (grinder), 1827-03-30 and another son named William born 1834-01-28. Lydia, born to Martha & Thomas (grinder), 1824-03-09.

    But a grinder is not a cutler. The Maude who made these two razors wasn't necessarily from Sheffield.

    As for this one, I'll be cleaning the rest of the grime off and putting it into a set of appropriate 1820's scales.
    -Zak Jarvis. Writer. Artist. Bon vivant.

  2. The Following User Says Thank You to Voidmonster For This Useful Post:

    Geezer (01-22-2013)

  3. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Carey OH, Fort Drum NY, Currently in Afghanistan.
    Posts
    126
    Thanked: 10

    Default

    That is a nice find are you going to be able to save the edge and shave with it?

  4. #3
    Captain ARAD. Voidmonster's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Pacifica, CA
    Posts
    2,474
    Thanked: 2226

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by insanity View Post
    That is a nice find are you going to be able to save the edge and shave with it?
    I won't know for sure until I get it on the hones, but I don't see anything that would prevent it from shaving.
    earcutter likes this.
    -Zak Jarvis. Writer. Artist. Bon vivant.

  5. #4
    Senior Member ScienceGuy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Posts
    1,650
    Thanked: 1341

    Default

    Ah you bastard you outbid my $6! That's a sweet one, I love the shape of that. Is that a GR stamp as well? Sweet catch, glad it went to appreciating hands.

  6. #5
    Captain ARAD. Voidmonster's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Pacifica, CA
    Posts
    2,474
    Thanked: 2226

    Default

    It sure is a GR stamp!

    You didn't really want it... It's a SMALL blade. LITTLE! Only 5/8!
    -Zak Jarvis. Writer. Artist. Bon vivant.

  7. #6
    Senior Member ScienceGuy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Posts
    1,650
    Thanked: 1341

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Voidmonster View Post
    It sure is a GR stamp!

    You didn't really want it... It's a SMALL blade. LITTLE! Only 5/8!
    That 1820s New York one I have is only 4/8. One of these days I'll get around to rescaling it...

  8. #7
    Historically Inquisitive Martin103's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Upstate New York
    Posts
    5,782
    Thanked: 4249
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    Hey there Captain! Cool find! Looking forward to see her dressed again! So i really dont understand how ScienceGuy tipped you on this razor and was planning to bid on it!

  9. #8
    Senior Member ScienceGuy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Posts
    1,650
    Thanked: 1341

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Martin103 View Post
    Hey there Captain! Cool find! Looking forward to see her dressed again! So i really dont understand how ScienceGuy tipped you on this razor and was planning to bid on it!
    We point out razors to each other a bit. I either didn't think or forgot he was going for this one.

  10. #9
    Senior Member Mike12345's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Deep South
    Posts
    227
    Thanked: 29

    Default

    I'm feeling like the dumbest guy in the room here. What's the GR stamp and what does it mean?
    Nice save and outstanding condition given it's age!
    Last edited by Mike12345; 01-12-2013 at 01:26 PM.

  11. #10
    Senior Member blabbermouth 10Pups's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Across the street from Mickey Mouse in Calif.
    Posts
    5,320
    Thanked: 1184

    Default

    You lucky dog !
    Good judgment comes from experience, and experience....well that comes from poor judgment.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •