PDA

View Full Version : $12 Medium Butcher


JohnnyDemonic
05-29-2011, 08:30 AM
I found this cute little Butcher in a pile of knives at an antique shop. It seems like a toy compared to my other W&B's. I tried cleaning it up, but without a buffer/polisher it's a no go. The etch on the blade is deep and the stamp is good, a little light, but not bad. There's a small crack on one scale, but nothing I couldn't repair.

The blade is as sharp as wet newspapers and there are uniform scratches the entire length of the blade, it really looks like someone ran it down an electric knife sharpener. :blink:

If the blade looks decent and the scales aren't destroyed and are orginal, I'll buy one every time. I love Butchers and I have no idea why.

I shall call him, Mini-B

http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo341/Letsfeedit/Straight%20Razors/WBMediumSize.jpg
Wid
05-29-2011, 08:37 AM
That looks just like a Joseph Allen I have. Same etching on the blade, same looking scales.
JohnnyDemonic
05-29-2011, 09:00 AM
That looks just like a Joseph Allen I have. Same etching on the blade, same looking scales.

That's weird, maybe it was a popular typeface during the time. Does all the text match word for word? If so, that's funny. I've seen a lot of razors with the same words, but the layout was usually different.
Wid
05-29-2011, 09:24 AM
It matches word for word.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v517/wid/MediumJA002.jpg
grump
05-29-2011, 09:36 AM
When you say cute little, How do you mean?

The total size or just the blade width?
JohnnyDemonic
05-29-2011, 08:31 PM
It matches word for word.

Wow, they could pass as twins--mine being the uglier of the two. LOL
What's the width of your blade? Mine is 5/8.




When you say cute little, How do you mean?
The total size or just the blade width?

Yeah, I don't like blades below 6/8, but this is a W&B so it gets a free pass. I wouldn't buy any other razor that was a 5/8.

I actually just won a 6/8 quarter hollow French point Wacker on eBay for $140 beans. I wanted a Wacker just like this one, but didn't want to spend over $200 for one. When you see something you really want, sometimes it's just too hard to pass up. That's the most money I've ever dropped on a razor.

Here is the sellers pic

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$(KGrHqMOKo4E253ViFN7BN2DONCS3Q~~_3.JPG

After I get it, it's getting sent to Harvitz81, he's a Coti-King when it comes to honing. He doesn't know it yet, but he's got some work coming in. I just hope he doesn't say no because I bother him so much. I better send him a message. :lol:
Wid
05-29-2011, 08:35 PM
Mine is 5/8 as well.
Legion
05-29-2011, 09:03 PM
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x146/dh10au/P1000191.jpg

Here's my NOS Joseph Allen. The blade etching on the Butcher seems a little deeper and more ornate. Maybe Joseph was trying to make a copy.
Wid
05-29-2011, 09:09 PM
Wish there was a side by side pic. The etching looks the same to me.
Legion
05-29-2011, 09:25 PM
Wish there was a side by side pic. The etching looks the same to me.

Very similar, but have a look at the serifs on the letters, particularly the M and H. Just a bit more fancy on the butcher.
nrdoty
05-29-2011, 09:32 PM
I have a "mini-b" just like that. Not in near as good condition though. I removed the scales cause they were in fairly poor shape and I hope to have it rescaled & honed eventually.
Wid
05-30-2011, 04:29 AM
Very similar, but have a look at the serifs on the letters, particularly the M and H. Just a bit more fancy on the butcher.

I stand corrected, there is a difference.
JohnnyDemonic
05-30-2011, 09:54 AM
Same typeface, only a slight variation, look at the S and Z. I tried to find the name of the type, but I couldn't find my typeface & typography books from college. :cursing:

I'll be sending this one out after my Wacker gets here. I'd like to glue the crack (more of a fat splinter), but I'm not sure what to use. Maybe my g/f has some of that stuff for gluing on fake fingernails. Also, when would you glue it, before soaking it in neatsfoot or after? Neatsfoot would probably make them expend a little.

I like to keep everything orginal if I can, there's to much history to simply toss out ugly parts. I have a bad case of W&BAD. Thank God I'm picky about them being all orginal and in decent condition or I would have a lot less money.

Has anyone noticed how the W&B's stamped with Sheffield, England tend to look much worse than the older ones? It's like the steel quality went down hill or they changed their process around 1900. Dunno, it could just be me.
Krodor
05-31-2011, 10:56 AM
looks like mine that I picked up for $12.50, but you've got what look to be original scales and a lot less staining.


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6-OGHzaB8sQ/TcingcQMTMI/AAAAAAAAGBI/D1PwkwmdlZA/s912/HPIM4733.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Qyyb6-xrXlA/TeQ4mWbDQSI/AAAAAAAAGE0/Aali1rBSfU4/s912/HPIM4742.JPG

oh well, I still win, since mine is MINE!!! :thumbup:

ahem.
Harvitz81
05-31-2011, 12:23 PM
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x146/dh10au/P1000191.jpg

Here's my NOS Joseph Allen. The blade etching on the Butcher seems a little deeper and more ornate. Maybe Joseph was trying to make a copy.

I really think that Joseph Allen probably worked for W&B and then split off on his own. In fact I think a lot of them did as I can't count the number of "The Celebrated Hollow Ground" razors and the likes I've seen from other Sheffield makers than W&B.