does this blade look correct?

[ScottinAZ]

ok. Contemplating another pickup here, purported to be a Wade and Butcher, at least according to the engraving on the scales. No visible markings on the tang. shoulder does not look completely correct, and this is starting to send up warning flags for being a fake. has anyone seen another like this one before?

 

[silver]

That one looks like a rescale to me but I could be wrong

 

[totorlekiller]

It is a bit odd that the markings will be wiped out completely, although possible if a serious amount of pitting was removed.
It looks like around the pin there is a build up, which would indicate the cleaning was done without removing the scales.
So I'd say it is possible. Kinda unlikely though.
But, it looks like a nice blade anyway.
If the price is right, it might still be worth it.

 

[ScottinAZ]

That one looks like a rescale to me but I could be wrong

Its possible, but the head pin does not appear to be recently done. I don't see any unevenness in the coloration that would indicate other than at least an older rescale job....

It is a bit odd that the markings will be wiped out completely, although possible if a serious amount of pitting was removed.
It looks like around the pin there is a build up, which would indicate the cleaning was done without removing the scales.
So I'd say it is possible. Kinda unlikely though.
But, it looks like a nice blade anyway.
If the price is right, it might still be worth it.

Agreed, it does seem strange that ANY makers marks are obliterated. Im concerned about the shape of the shoulder, I cannot say that I have seen all wade and butchers, but I don't recall seeing any with a shoulder shape such as this. Most have double shoulders, this is single, and appears to be in the wrong place for a wade. I could be completely off base here though...

 

[sarimento1]

neat embossed scales. if in good, 'restorable' condition, those alone might be of interest. perhaps a w&b historian can weigh in for you.

 

[Mike H]

I would say that the blade is not original to the scales. Like others have pointed out, the pinning looks old, but W&B were fastidious about putting their name on the blade.

 

[SliceOfLife]

I've never seen an unmarked W&B blade with original pinning.
That is not original pinning.
That shoulder doesn't look like the markings were removed, it looks like it never had markings.
That grind doesn't look like a W&B to me.

I expect based on these things, it's a rescale.

 

[Coaster88]

Rescale. Scales might be worth it if price reflects blade is not WB

 

[ScottinAZ]

Well, the consensus is not good. I had already pulled the trigger on this one, and it arrived today. The scales are a bit warped, but not bad enough to impinge on the blade. While this may be a rescale, the pins have been in place for a LONG time, judging by the patina on the peened edges. The blade appears to have been heavily cleaned and polished at some point in the past. Most telling however is the noticeable ridge on the tang where the makers mark should be. It may be possible, however unlikely that the makers mark was sanded off. especially if this is one of the Wade and Butchers that appears to have acid etched markings as so many on Ebay seem to. those marks are not that deep, and would not take much to obliterate them entirely, either by accident or design. I also did some checking and have seen some supposed Wade and Butcher "celebrated American razors" that do not have the tang stamp or etching. could this possibly be one of those?






There are no jimps on either the top or bottom edge of the tang, just smooth steel. If this were a stamped tang, it would be easy to recreate the markings, just use a strong magnetic field and iron filings (the disruption of the steel would affect the magnetic field, allowing the markings to be seen). with an etching, I don't believe there is such a method able to be used. does anyone here know more on that than I?

 

[ScottinAZ]

did a bit more research on this one, and it isn't the only one of its kind out there evidently. here is one that ended recently on the Bay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wade-Butchers-Celebrated-Razor-Antique-Straight-Razor-/290987403248?nma=true&si=rOAB172sahzHF0zn%252BpBSuPxCsYU%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Same issue with no blade stamping. Mine measures out at a hair over 5/8, this one is a 13/16, so a different size, and different colored horn scales.

Pinning looks the same as my model as well (non bullseye washer, and verdigris around the pinning).

I understand that these blades are all well over 100 yrs old at this point, but given the condition of the scales ( decent, a few bug bites, and slightly warped), I would say if it WAS a rebladed set of scales, it was NOT done recently. How common was rescaling a blade way back when? it would seem more likely to replace a razor when the blade conked out, rather than put old scales on a new(er) blade.

 

[SliceOfLife]

It's possible it's a W&B blade, but there's no way to know for sure that it is, and I'd say it's unlikely. Your other blade found on eBay is also a rescale. A very recent rescale. A rescale that broke those scales. That blade however is older and British and could be original, though I'd still doubt it. Your blade honestly doesn't look like a W&B or even a Sheffield blade. Not saying it's impossible, but it'd be a pretty odd duck.

 

[johnmrson]

It's possible that it's a regrind that lost it's tang stamp in the process. Hard to be sure that it's a W&B blade though so I'd be watchful on what you pay for it.