Early Brittain stubtail and pressed horn

Just got these two in and am very happy. The first is a Brittain, Wilkinson and Brownell (trademark FRANCE). The scales are unfortunately broken at the pivot, but there is a neat brass inlay. This one's been pretty nastily ground, so may not be a shaver, but is still great for its history. The tail is very interesting. It's very wide but paper thin.

Attachment 131343

Attachment 131344

Attachment 131345

And second, a silver steel razor in pressed horn scales. I've seen this curved type around, but they're pretty uncommon. The shape is totally functional, but can be kind of an ugly duckling as far as scales go. A little neatsfoot oil should bring these right back.

Attachment 131346

Attachment 131347

Ahh, neatsfoots oil, I've bought the stuff but have yet to try it on horn.
It doesn't smell bad at all to me, like the Royal Dragoons saddle chamber.

Love the trademark "France" made by a guy named Brittain, probably Swedish steel and honed in Germany... those scales look Italian to me, just kidding.
Very nice razors even if they wont shave!

Those are both really cool. I love the brass inlay on the first one. A couple of genuine treasures :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lemur

Ahh, neatsfoots oil, I've bought the stuff but have yet to try it on horn.
It doesn't smell bad at all to me, like the Royal Dragoons saddle chamber.

Love the trademark "France" made by a guy named Brittain, probably Swedish steel and honed in Germany... those scales look Italian to me, just kidding.
Very nice razors even if they wont shave!

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France was actually one of the junior partners. Can't remember his given name off the top of my head (and I'm on a phone and a 1700 miles from home and all my research). The firm hired him and bought his mark in the 1770's if my brain can be believed.

And yes, it's almost certainly Swedish steel (or at least Swedish ore) -- 90% of Sheffield steel was made with either blister steel or raw ore from Dannora. The rest came from India, with a tiny amount from America and Russia.

Dannemora. Stupid phone.

Very interesting razors, but who is the makers of razor #2 ?