I can’t find anything. I’ve scrolled through so many eBay posts, Etsy, forums, google image search and can’t find anything that resembles it. I feel as if it’s either a very well made counterfeit/bs razor or rare… or that I need to read up and learn more history about razors.
‘Leonard’s Leader’ really need help identifying this straight razor
- Thread starter swiftliketaylor13
- Start date
Why would it be a counterfeit? When you say you can't find anything that resembles it you mean the shape/scales or the name?
Looks like regular straight razor to me. Rare? Could be, don't know much about the brand. Expensive? Nah. It's not.
Looks like regular straight razor to me. Rare? Could be, don't know much about the brand. Expensive? Nah. It's not.
In the early 1900’s it was not uncommon for razor companies to stamp your company name on a run of razors for as small of an order as a gross, 144, to be used as advertisement. Many a small hardware store had their name stamped on such razors, as that was where most folks shopped. Sears even did the same with a line of razors.
It is a very nice razor, love the scales, blued tang and unique bolsters, tthat was made in Germany for W.J. Leonard or Massachusetts by an unknow maker.
This razor design and especially the bolsters are very similar to those made by Anton Wingen, at the time a very large manufacturer. Wingen made and popularized the use of fancy brass and plated bolsters, they also designed and made jewelry, trophies and medals for the Olympics and major sporting events of the time.
Wingen made razors for export, for many other cutlery companies and did not stamp their name anywhere on them, they also made identical razor and did stamp their name on them, not for export, for sale in Germany. Some folks say Wingen made the vaulted Duck line of Double Duck, Bresduck razors and some of those razors are identical to those with Wingen stamps with different but similar bolsters.
Wingen made excellent razors, well ground and beautiful design, detail and with unique scales in a myriad of colors, many of which did not survive due to the composition of the celluloid used to make unique colors and patterns.
The razor does need some heel correction/reshaping, you can see where it has been honed on the stabilizer and tang. Heel correction will allow the razor to sit flat on the stone and is a simple 5-minute fix.
Nice razor in excellent condition, likely made at the pinnacle of straight razor manufacturing, should be a great shaver.
It is a very nice razor, love the scales, blued tang and unique bolsters, tthat was made in Germany for W.J. Leonard or Massachusetts by an unknow maker.
This razor design and especially the bolsters are very similar to those made by Anton Wingen, at the time a very large manufacturer. Wingen made and popularized the use of fancy brass and plated bolsters, they also designed and made jewelry, trophies and medals for the Olympics and major sporting events of the time.
Wingen made razors for export, for many other cutlery companies and did not stamp their name anywhere on them, they also made identical razor and did stamp their name on them, not for export, for sale in Germany. Some folks say Wingen made the vaulted Duck line of Double Duck, Bresduck razors and some of those razors are identical to those with Wingen stamps with different but similar bolsters.
Wingen made excellent razors, well ground and beautiful design, detail and with unique scales in a myriad of colors, many of which did not survive due to the composition of the celluloid used to make unique colors and patterns.
The razor does need some heel correction/reshaping, you can see where it has been honed on the stabilizer and tang. Heel correction will allow the razor to sit flat on the stone and is a simple 5-minute fix.
Nice razor in excellent condition, likely made at the pinnacle of straight razor manufacturing, should be a great shaver.
Steve56
Ask me about shaving naked!
Could be a F.W. Engles, who made a ‘Leader’, maybe for an American shop?
- Thread starter
- #5
I understand a lot of replies and I’m very thankful for them.
is it worth the $65 price tag?
is it worth the $65 price tag?
Steve56
Ask me about shaving naked!
Evaluations are not permitted in the open boards here, but it looks like that it’s in good condition and should be able to shave well if properly honed.
For what it's worth, there's a Massachusetts Department of Health Public Health Bulletin from August 1915 where they list samples of foods that were tested, and they list a sample of Acme brand lemon extract that was found to be "deficient" and "incorrectly labeled", from the WJ Leonard company in Brockton, MA. My guess is it's from a grocery store or general store there?
The only other mention I could find was a Leonard's Leader cigar ad in a Lawrence KS newspaper from the late 1800s, but that seems less plausibly related to me. Maybe they're linked?
The only other mention I could find was a Leonard's Leader cigar ad in a Lawrence KS newspaper from the late 1800s, but that seems less plausibly related to me. Maybe they're linked?
