What is the oldest straight razor you own?

6Cuda6 · Dec 27, 2018

FatboySlim said:
Probably my oldest razor is my Wm. Greaves & Sons Sheaf Works wedge, amazingly restored by Max Sprecher. Images are Max's, no way I could do better. It would be circa 1820 - 1850. View attachment 938583

View attachment 938584

Beautiful...wow.

FatboySlim · Dec 27, 2018

Another relative oldie, a matched pair of Joseph Rodgers in ivory, that I can fairly positively date back to December 12, 1889 :001_rolle

FatboySlim · Dec 27, 2018

Another lovely Max Sprecher restore, a pre-1890 Wade & Butcher hollow ground, with laminated G10 scales. Again, Max's images, not mine. The razor *is* mine, tho...

Clay S · Dec 27, 2018

1918-24 S.R.Droescher/Blue Diamond

Shank reads: S.R.Droescher
Garwood N.J.
Made in Germany
(Vertically) 106

Obverse reads: (Vertically) 106
BLUE-U-DIAMOND
TRADE | MARK

Tang reads: > ~~>SRD >~~[/QUOTE]

Njguy1977 · Dec 27, 2018

I just got this one 2 days ago, Johan Engstrom 1874.

6Cuda6 · Dec 28, 2018

Its great to see the old iron coming out!! Gorgeous razor folks!!

kcb5150 · Dec 28, 2018

Probably my oldest blade atm. This Samuel Norris S:Norris stamp could make it as early as 1767.

Jim99 · Dec 28, 2018

kcb5150 said:
Probably my oldest blade atm. This Samuel Norris S:Norris stamp could make it as early as 1767. View attachment 938712 View attachment 938713 View attachment 938714

Absolutely gorgeous! All of the old steel has such a great look.

How many of you gentlemen use these razors, versus keeping them as shoe pieces?

My oldest was a late 1860s Wade and Butcher that I recently sold off because I could not hone that wedge. I wish I kept it.

The oldest one I have now is a Henry Sears and Son that I believe was made in the 1870s to 1880s.

kcb5150 · Dec 28, 2018

I use a William Evatt from the 1790s and a Roberts from the same era most often to shave with out of the stubtails. Something like the one above is probably more case queen material

FatboySlim · Dec 28, 2018

Amazing! I don't even think I've seen pictures of a straight razor that was older than the very late 1700s, so this is a treat. Thank you for posting them.

kcb5150 said:
Probably my oldest blade atm. This Samuel Norris S:Norris stamp could make it as early as 1767.

FatboySlim · Dec 28, 2018

Jim99 said:
How many of you gentlemen use these razors, versus keeping them as shoe pieces?

The Rodgers pair in ivory is fragile and rare, so I've only shaved with them a few times, just to have had the experience. They pretty much just stay in the case since.

The restored Greaves and W&B with blue G10 scales I use all the time, great shavers and rugged.

I'm going through a "wedge phase" right now, enjoying old Sheffield steel. My current favorite is an old W&B wedge with cornucopia/horn-of-plenty etching, from probably the 1850s -1860s. I got it for cheap off eBay with a ton of hone wear, non-original warped black plastic scales, and it is no beauty queen. But now that I've gotten the spine and bevel geometry issues sorted out, man does that thing shave! Silent but deadly, a whisker squeegee.