Mainely Straight Razors

Tillitson & Co was listed at Columbia Place in Sheffield in 1852. By 1860 Thomas Tillotson had vacated Columbia Place making the dating of this razor pretty easy. A beautiful dreadnaught point 13/16 near wedge. The finished picture was sent by the customer who is a much better photographer than I. The last pictures show the blade in process off the 400 grit belt and the bevel set on a 1 K stone.

An early Marsden 6/8 near wedge with an arris spine. Circa 1820. I rarely see this Sheffield maker. There are several makers by this name in Tweedale's Directory but only two fit this time period. Joseph Marsden is listed on Pond St. from 1816 - 1822 and Benjamin Marsden on Scotland St. from 1816 to 1828. The original scales were broken at the pivot. New scales were copied in honey horn along with a lead wedge and brass pins and collars.

A 15/16 Brittain, Wilkinson & Brownell circa 1830 with the coveted George Brittain Maltese Cross and Anchor stamp. This one had a lot of hone wear and heavy pitting. The blade cleaned up remarkably well and took a beautiful edge. It will make a fine shaver. The homemade wooden scales were replaced with black horn, brass pins and collars and a lead wedge. I don't think I have ever seen an original G.B razor that did not have black horn scales. This maker is pretty rare.

Here is a nice little early W. Greaves. Circa 1810-1820. A 5/8 near wedge blade with an arris spine. The horn scales are original to the razor and were restored by the customer. I just pinned the blade. The in-process pictures are off the 400 grit belt and the bevel set.

A smiling 13/16+ Joseph Elliot near wedge with an arris spine. Received as just a bare blade this razor had seen a lot of use and may have been previously reground at some point in its life. The back face of the spine had been ground uneven and tapering towards the heel. That was not correctable, but it did not affect the nice thin and even bevel. Honey horn scales are copied from an original set of Elliot scales. A lead wedge and brass pins and collar completed the restoration.

Stopped into my local barber shop a few days ago for a haircut and found they had a new barber there. A graduate of barber school he uses a shavette razor. We talked razors for sometime and he told me he wished he had a real straight razor. This 13/16 near wedge Wade & Butcher has lavished in my someday I'll get to it box long enough. Next week it is a gift for him. I don't believe there is a more iconic vintage straight than an old Wade & Butcher like this one.

An 8/8 Wm. Stenton and Son near wedge circa 1840. A big heavy blade measuring 3 1/2 inches from heel to toe. William Stenton partnered with George Wostenholm for a short period but the partnership was dissolved in 1831. By the end of the 1830's Wm. Stenton & Sons had been formed in Sheffield. The razor is restored in a glazed finish. The scales are original to the blade and have been re-dyed black. The razor is pinned with brass pins and collars and the original wedge.

A nice sway back smiling 7/8 Wade & Butcher. One of Sheffield's most prolific makers. Received as just a heavily corroded bare blade it is restored in a glazed finish with a nice thin and even bevel. These smiling blades provide a very comfortable shave IMHO. Scaled in honey horn with brass beehive collars and a lead wedge. The in work pictures show the blade off the 400 grit belt and the bevel set on a 1K hone.

An pre-1890 H. & J. W. King 13/16 near wedge. They were merchants and importers from New York. The razor is most likely from one of the Sheffield makers. This razor had been previously restored. It was over polished and left with significant hone wear. Restored in a glazed finish with a nice thin and even bevel as it would have had when it left the factory. Black horn scales with a lead wedge and brass pins and collars complete the restoration. The in work pictures show the blade off the 400 grit belt and the bevel set on a 1K hone.

A 6/8 Greaves & Sons near wedge circa 1830's received as a bare blade. It is restored as it might have looked when it left the factory 190 years ago. A glazed finished blade with a nice thin even bevel, honey horn scales, a lead wedge and brass pins and collars. Heavy pitting in the tang area limited what could be done and still save the maker's stamp.