Is this razor from the 1700's?

**penan** · 02-08-2012, 08:11 AM

Since I started straight razor shaving this year I have developed a OSRAD, I have been looking for old straights and today I finally got me a good old one. I found this site: http://www.theinvisibleedge.co.uk/history1.html and according to that information my straight is probably from the 1700's.

What do you guys think, from what time period do you think it is?
Where do you think it could have been made?
How should I restore it?

The scales seems to be made of horn and the booth the blade and the spine has the form of a wedge.

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**penan** · 02-08-2012, 08:12 AM

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**penan** · 02-08-2012, 08:14 AM

There is no inscription on the blade or scales exceept for the "hook" shown in the right picture above.

**MajorBurnz** · 02-08-2012, 08:18 AM

The 'hook' looks like a boathook to me. It could a 1700's blade, but that style was used into the early 1800's, so it's hard to date for sure.

That's a pretty nice blade. If you're considering restoring it, I wouldn't do anything besides hone it. A restoration would spoil the blade.

EDIT: What I mean is: don't do anything to the blade or the scales, if you can hold off. It will destroy the patina and history of the blade. However, it's your blade, so I won't complain if you decide you can't hold off restoring it.

If you decide to sell it, I'd be interested in owning it.

**hig789** · 02-08-2012, 08:24 AM

I agree the style is from the 1700's to the early 1800's. Either way that is a very nice blade. I wouldn't restore it either just hone it.

**Kentos** · 02-08-2012, 08:28 AM

When you get to really old blades, the value is in it as an antique more than a shaver, so any sanding, rescaling etc. will diminsh the value and desireability. Very nice score!

**MajorBurnz** · 02-08-2012, 08:32 AM

Originally Posted by Kentos

When you get to really old blades, the value is in it as an antique more than a shaver, so any sanding, rescaling etc. will diminsh the value and desireability. Very nice score!

I completely agree, but I also think that unless you're a collector, you may want to at least hone it and use it. I doubt there are many blades that can be used as a retirement fund.

Still, in this case, I'd think hard before I even honed it. You should tape the spine if you decide to hone it.

**hillbilly** · 02-08-2012, 08:32 AM

good lord why would you want to ruin that razor by restoring it? Thats a good find, very nice.

**penan** · 02-08-2012, 08:40 AM

Damn, I thought i for sure was from the 1700's, now my OSRAD is back on, must find me a straight from the 1700's........

.

Is it safe to assume that it's at least 200 years old?

I will for sure keep away from rescaling, sanding and such. The razor is actually in a very nice condition, do you think I should stay away from using metal polish on the blade and maby oiling the scales as well?

How do you hone a razor like this?

**MajorBurnz** · 02-08-2012, 08:48 AM

penan-

I wouldn't do anything that didn't need to be done. Everything looks functional on the blade and scales. Don't tighten the scales, sand or oil them, or polish the blade.

Honing - You should probably hone it with two layers of electrical tape on the spine. One layer may be too little.

However, don't expect it to be a spectacular shaver. It will work, and it may be comfortable, but maybe not. Hard to tell. These are tools, but advances were made to the design in the mid-1800's, and there's a reason they stuck.

Still, take some time and think about it before you start honing it. You can't go back once you've run it over a hone. I'm not saying you shouldn't hone it (I would use it myself) - just think about it for a while before deciding.

**hig789** · 02-08-2012, 09:49 AM

If it where mine I probably wouldnt even hone it. I would guess by the lack of the tail that you more than likely have a razor from the 1700's, the thing is that with out a makers mark no one is going to certain. If it were mine I would consider it from the 1700's.

**KeithTheSnake** · 02-08-2012, 10:47 AM

I can only respect the opinions and advice of the others. Still, I gotta say that not honing and using this gorgeous piece of history is like having a hot girlfriend and not taking her out on the town. That would just be a shame.

**Brent** · 02-08-2012, 11:05 AM

I'm curious - would that notch have been original to the blade? And if so what would it's purpose have been?

**MajorBurnz** · 02-08-2012, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by Brent

I'm curious - would that notch have been original to the blade? And if so what would it's purpose have been?

It looks like someone used the blade for a 'non-shaving related' purpose. That's not part of the original design. However, it's far enough down the blade that it won't affect the shave, as long as he pays attention to it.

**swedewithbeard** · 02-08-2012, 11:16 AM

Hey, I saw that on T*****a, nice price on that. I was curious about that one myself, but I just had bought a Heljestrand and an E.A. Berg as my first resto pieces. I have promised myself to fix them before I buy anything else, otherwise I will end up with an empty bank account and a lot of dull razors =).

You should at least try to shave with it imo, honing it with tape on the spine can't hurt it that much. Lycka till!

**Brent** · 02-08-2012, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by MajorBurnz

It looks like someone used the blade for a 'non-shaving related' purpose. That's not part of the original design. However, it's far enough down the blade that it won't affect the shave, as long as he pays attention to it.

Thanks!

**penan** · 02-08-2012, 12:23 PM

Thank you for all the input and advices.

The razor is in a very good condition take into account it's probably 200 years old. The scales are tight and the blade closes dead center, the blade and scales are in good condition. After recieving all the feedback I will not do anything to neither the blade nor the scales.

The reason I bought it was because I wanted a 200+ year old razor that can still be used, hence I will hone it. I will probably wait to hone it until I get some more experience by the hones (I sure don't want to mess this beauty up) when I finally hone it I will go with MajorBurnz advice and use two layers of tape.

Regarding the notch on the blade. As MajorBurns already pointed out it's not a part of the original design.

@swedewithbeard: Yes I thought it was a very good price, I had actually a max bid at almost 5 times more than I paid for it. Lycka till du med!

**johnmrson** · 02-08-2012, 12:30 PM

I would say that due to the lack of a defined tang, it is more likely to be late 1700's than early 1800's although there is no definitive way of dating it.

**penan** · 02-08-2012, 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by johnmrson

I would say that due to the lack of a defined tang, it is more likely to be late 1700's than early 1800's although there is no definitive way of dating it.

I have to agree, I just went over the information in the link I provided in my first post again, and it seems most likely that it's been made in the late 1700's.

**Debrushman** · 02-08-2012, 08:22 PM

You were taken my friend. That's not even a straight razor. The engraved hook clearly demonstrates that its a folding bait knife. They were very popular on old fishing ships. Because I feel bad for you I will offer you $3.00 for the bait knife (on you pay shipping and insurance).
Lol, that's a really nice straight. Probably 200 years old or more.Great find.