Wade & Butcher FBU Shorty

[timwcic]

I don’t know what to make of this, a 9/8 W&B FBU Shorty?? Except for the scales being full length everything about this says it’s factory. Under the rust, the rounded toe is polished, no grind marks. On both sides, it is beveled equally into the spine and polished to match. Only broken up by the small amount of hone wear. Being short, it’s missing the Barber Notch. The pins look original with the step washers clean, no signs of being disassembled. Same with the scales, no sign of disassembly trauma. It could have been modified without breakdown, but the metalwork is too clean, IMHO. I have seen many shorts over the years, always showing signs of repairs, but other than horrible storage issues, this is a clean, original SR.

Has anyone in the brain trust ever see any examples like this?

 

[kcb5150]

That was cut down 100%

 

[mycarver]

Yeah, it’s a hack job. Easy enough to do without disassembly. That’s what I make of it.
Other than that it’s a wet mess and not sure why under the rust the toe is polished is a thing. Or pins, hone, scales?
Are you asking a question, just showing a thrashed razor or contemplating it?
Not really sure what the response should be geared towards . Sorry.
Just a razor that broke and someone ground it off. Clean metal work there is the easiest to do. But it’s under a pile of rust so I don’t know how clean it is.
Happens.

 

[kcb5150]

He just wanted to know if they ever made them like that. Wb definitely no. Only Sheffield 1"+ shorty I know of that was made that way is the haining grip.

 

[rbscebu]

The positioning of the face etching, being central, has me thinking that it could be at its original length. As for the scales length, they could be original or a re-scale.

After you hone back to good steel on the edge, this SR could be approaching an 8/8.

 

[kcb5150]

It's not centered at all.. It's just a classic blade that probably caught a faucet at some point in its life. These types of blades you will see them full size either with the notch or a very gentle French point and the latter is not that common at all.

 

[mycarver]

It's not centered at all.. It's just a classic blade that probably caught a faucet at some point in its life. These types of blades you will see them full size either with the notch or a very gentle French point and the latter is not that common at all.

You got it.

 

[mycarver]

He just wanted to know if they ever made them like that. Wb definitely no. Only Sheffield 1"+ shorty I know of that was made that way is the haining grip. View attachment 1662401View attachment 1662402

Ah, thanks.

 

[Gamma]

Yah, cut down. Most likely dropped and the toe cracked. Seen a million of 'em like that.

Prob shortened by a real grinder that serviced barbers, that's why the toe looks better than most ebay 'restorers' could pull off.

 

[kcb5150]

If you cleaned it up and honed it, it would be a really nice razor to shave with regardless. Seems the worst of the rot is mostly away from the thinnest area which is good. Sometimes having less length on the blade is a blessing, especially on the neck.

 

[mycarver]

The positioning of the face etching, being central, has me thinking that it could be at its original length. As for the scales length, they could be original or a re-scale.

After you hone back to good steel on the edge, this SR could be approaching an 8/8.

Umm . No. If you’re familiar with these blades you’ll know none of that’s correct.

Here is that blade . And the second pic shows a nearly 3/8” grayish smudge at the tip that if this much was removed the etch would appear “centered” .
And if it were factory, why make the scales so oversized. Doesn’t make sense at any level since it was broken and somebody ground it off. Had skills to do that ( questioning temper?) but why mess with the scales when they did the job as is.
Practicality won the day .

 

[kcb5150]

The other style. Uncommon in my experience

 

[mycarver]

The other style. Uncommon in my experience

Quite right I think. Only my wedges lack the barbers notch. All others have them.

 

[mycarver]

Another reference. 27 or so mm from etch to tip. The same distance from back of etch to heel. Way over.

Back of etch to heel almost 17mm, compare that to the top to etch leaves you missing around 10 mm.
Grind off that 10 mm and you have a centered ) which they aren’t) etch.

 

[rbscebu]

Umm . No. If you’re familiar with these blades you’ll know none of that’s correct.

Here is that blade . And the second pic shows a nearly 3/8” grayish smudge at the tip that if this much was removed the etch would appear “centered” .
And if it were factory, why make the scales so oversized. Doesn’t make sense at any level since it was broken and somebody ground it off. Had skills to do that ( questioning temper?) but why mess with the scales when they did the job as is.
Practicality won the day .
View attachment 1662416View attachment 1662420

Thank you. I am not familiar with that blade and stand corrected.

 

[timwcic]

Thanks all for the help. I just wanted to make sure it was not some rare, special made mutton chop chopper. Of all the shorties I have seen, this was the cleanest in form, and also the widest. Seemed to me to be a pro job. Now that the consensus is not so, it will become a set of donor scales for one of my fat wedges whose scales have been devoured by the little buggers. One day I will make size appropriate scales for it and give it a restore. That will be a fun winter project

 

[timwcic]

I purchased it with a second W&B. The second has broken scales but can’t pass on a heavy blade with a thumb notch. They were priced by motivated sellers

 

[HoneThis]

Piggybacking on this to ask about another mystery W&B FBU that has me confused. If I had to guess I’d say it’s the result of someone intentionally grinding it to be that way…? Pictures below.

Oh, and another W&B related question…. A twin set of very early straight razors from Sheffield (crazy shape) are engraved with nothing but “WSB”. Would I be correct in assuming it means Wade Samuel Butcher? Photos below.

 

[alex1921]

Aren't those corn razors?

 

[mycarver]

Aren't those corn razors?

Looks like the usual blade shape for a corn razor but slightly larger. I have some 3/4 size razors but they have regular looking blades .