J Weiss Razor

[pburke]

Hi all,

Newbie here. I just picked up the following razor for $14 on eBay. It says "J Weiss 87 Oxford St" on the shank and "Weiss Lancet Steel" on the blade. Based on a few other forum threads (1, 2), I believe it is quite old -- possibly 1820s.

What I'm wondering from you all is:

1. Can anyone confirm/debunk my guess about the date?
2. From the pictures, do you notice any serious flaws?
3. Any guesses as to what the scales are made of?

I have been shaving with a replaceable-blade straight for a little over a year, but this will be my first "real" straight razor. I can't wait to try it out.

- patrick burke

[JLuger]

That's a great looking razor. I'm no expert, so I couldn't begin to guess the age or scale material so hopefully someone else will get in here and comment.

[quist]

-J. Weiss & Son 237 OXFORD ST. G(crown)R 1820-1830 - This is the only thing I could find with J. Weiss on Oxford St. Im pretty sure it is your razor
Nice razor by the way
The Goins book also list
-John Weiss and Son 1883 - present
-Weiss and Son 287 Ford st. 1883 - present in London England
-John Weiss 1830-1883

Hope this helps

[KeithTheSnake]

Funny, it doesn't look that old at all.

[pburke]

Thanks for the help, all.

[hig789]

Very nice score at a great price.

[Brent]

The way that the monkey tail is it doesn't appear to be as old as 1820's to my eye.

[Harvitz81]

I have a cased gentlemen's set of John Weiss razors that are scaled in ivory and fantastic shavers. Yours is scaled in ivory as well and is in great shape and only would need a minimal restore.
They supposedly procured a bit of steel from the london bridge to make cutlery and razors, so yours could have some of that in it.

I'm thinking later 1800s for time as it looks like it is hollow ground (and not a wedge reground as it has blade etch). I'm sure it will take a fantastic edge. Nice score!

[quist]

I keep coming back and looking at this. Something did nt seem right.
I wonder if the "1883 - present" listing for the Weiss Brths. on Ford St. didnt also make razor with the Oxford St. address on them.

[life2short1971]

Scales look like ivory by the pins. Nice blade

[pburke]

Razor arrived today, and the pictures didn't do it justice. It really is beautiful -- EXCEPT for a crack in the blade that extends from the cutting edge almost to the bottom of the etching. It's not really visible in the pictures, except as a slight irregularity along the edge.

I assume there's no fix for this kind of damage -- So, what would you do in this situation? Here are my options, as I see them:
- Keep it in my collection as a nice, but unusable, razor.
- Try to return it (eBay listing said no returns, but I could possibly get my money back through eBay buyer protection)
- Use the scales to restore another razor
- Sell it cheap to one of you nice folks :)

Thanks again for your expertise in these matters!

[superbleu]

I'd say try to return it, If it's cracked I wouldn't use it.
Option 3 is also viable if option two doesn't work.

You could try to sell it when you are eligible according to the BST rules.

[life2short1971]

Well you shouldn't attempt to remove the scales yourself. Thats a job for the experienced in removing ivory scales. They will break if not done properly.They are nice and would be nice on another razor so its your choice.

[mycarver]

Yeah, at this point get a refund if you can ,, or sell off the scales , but the blade is shot for all intent and purpose. And , not that it matters, I can't believe the age as being 1820's or so with the style and work on the blade. You see a blade from that time and it simply looks old.
Just my opinion.