Mjclark, timwcic - Very nice razors gentlemen!
Sheffield Appreciation Thread
- Thread starter mjclark
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Need I say more, the more common rascal, with Sheffield steel
I have 6 of these from John and William Ragg.
All ivory scales.I have 6 of these from John and William Ragg.
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- #65
Phenomenal!
I had a Ragg Bros quarter hollow which was beautifully balanced and took a great edge.
I've also seen a Ragg Bros 9/8 as big as a GB Anchor!
What size and grind are your beautiful half-dozen Raggs?
Got myself more sheffield goodness! Army razor by Thomas W. Ward. I like the feel of the sheffield razors so far, soft and sturdy, much different to the full hollowed CVHs I'm a bit more accustomed to. It's a bit odd that I think sheffield razors feel softer, seing how thick they are it should be the other way around!
I love the groove this razor has in which the text "army razor" is engraved, nifty details like these are really a hallmark of sheffield steel!
I love the groove this razor has in which the text "army razor" is engraved, nifty details like these are really a hallmark of sheffield steel!
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These are simply stunning, one of the most beautiful straight razors I have ever seen. If I had just one of these I would become a straight razor user!
I have 6 of these from John and William Ragg.
7/8 Half Hollw
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- #69
Nowill's World's Razor this morning:
6/8 extra hollow with double jimps- I had a Bengall which was made from a very similar blank, and these are incredible shavers.
I've been using astonishing laser like Japanese razors over the last week, and this Sheffield easily holds its own against them... and took a fraction of the time to hone [emoji3]
6/8 extra hollow with double jimps- I had a Bengall which was made from a very similar blank, and these are incredible shavers.
I've been using astonishing laser like Japanese razors over the last week, and this Sheffield easily holds its own against them... and took a fraction of the time to hone [emoji3]
Same. I really enjoy the feel and shaves from the JWest razors, but I've always been a big fan of those Sheffield blades. Available in a broad array of blade styles, all take a great edge with ease and deliver superb performances.
Here is a recent shot of some Wostenholm & Son razors I used in consecutive days. I love the variety out there, even from the same maker.
I have a couple. I'm a big fan of the history in them.
First is an all original, yet to be restored W&B from the 1830's. I cleaned the face a bit but it's hard to see from the pictures. There is a ship complete with crew, rigging, waves and even a bird on the water. Straight buffalo horn scales.
There are two of my favorite razors, both in horn with ivory wedges. The top was done by mycarver and the bottom by who I consider the best on ebay doing restorations. Both Fenney era tally ho's.
Next are a couple more W&B razors. An early/mid 1800's bow and a newer special. Not sure how you date bow razors but it doesn't say sheffield or anything on the blade. Shaves like a champ off my dated coti from the same era.
This was probably a big FBU before it was most likely reground, the makers marks are gone too. Awesome steel though, constantly in my rotation. As is it's still a big 8/8, due for new horn scales.
First is an all original, yet to be restored W&B from the 1830's. I cleaned the face a bit but it's hard to see from the pictures. There is a ship complete with crew, rigging, waves and even a bird on the water. Straight buffalo horn scales.
There are two of my favorite razors, both in horn with ivory wedges. The top was done by mycarver and the bottom by who I consider the best on ebay doing restorations. Both Fenney era tally ho's.
Next are a couple more W&B razors. An early/mid 1800's bow and a newer special. Not sure how you date bow razors but it doesn't say sheffield or anything on the blade. Shaves like a champ off my dated coti from the same era.
This was probably a big FBU before it was most likely reground, the makers marks are gone too. Awesome steel though, constantly in my rotation. As is it's still a big 8/8, due for new horn scales.
Pics of the chopper, didn't get my post edit in time
Lastly are my project blades, a couple W&B and a Fenney Tally Ho.
Lastly are my project blades, a couple W&B and a Fenney Tally Ho.
How straight is the bevel? I'm partial to Fenney tally ho razors but i'm always a sucker for originals. Fenney had some amazing quality control for the time, every one I have is immaculate with perfect bevels. A lot of wedges are wonky looking but shave great.
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- #74
From the 1890's to the 1930's the Kropp brand was widely available offering an excellent everyday razor at a good price.
They are all of Sheffield steel and some were ground in Germany.
Others, like this one, were also ground in Sheffield and they're all excellent.
I saw the Kropp described somewhere as the Ford Focus of straight razors.
This 6/8 with ivorine scales holds a superb edge and shaves like a dream, and the Kropp advertising of the time claims that this razor will "never need grinding"
- Thread starter
- #75
Walker And Hall Flag Razor this morning:
A very competent generic full hollow - Walker and Hall actually specialised in silver plating.
Walker was a chemist and Hall a grocer, and together they became very successful.
After their deaths the company was taken over by John Bingham who brought the firm into disrepute by falsely claiming that Walker had invented the process of electroplating and exaggerating the number of workers he employed, as well as alienating many buyers by giving special discounts to certain favoured customers whilst charging others full price.
Nice razor though.
A very competent generic full hollow - Walker and Hall actually specialised in silver plating.
Walker was a chemist and Hall a grocer, and together they became very successful.
After their deaths the company was taken over by John Bingham who brought the firm into disrepute by falsely claiming that Walker had invented the process of electroplating and exaggerating the number of workers he employed, as well as alienating many buyers by giving special discounts to certain favoured customers whilst charging others full price.
Nice razor though.
I have a shoulderless shorty Sheffield that I would never part with.
Light, nimble, and feels like an extension of my hand rather than a razor. I should get a nice set of custom scales for it.... maybe someday...
Light, nimble, and feels like an extension of my hand rather than a razor. I should get a nice set of custom scales for it.... maybe someday...
- Thread starter
- #77
Just acquired this Terry #14 Sheffiekd extra hollow.
What an awesome razor - 15/16 and made from one of those Solingen #14 blanks also used by Filarmonica, Guillermo Hoppe et al. then ground in Sheffield by Terry.
From the grind and the solid plastic scales, I'd guess this is from the 1920's which must surely be the Golden Age of straight razor design.
And what an amazing shave!
The guy I bought this from explained that it belonged to his grandfather and they found it amongst his things after he had passed away.
His grandfather had really looked after this razor and it was still sharp, so I'm pleased to say that it is truly being appreciated and enjoyed here in Devon.
What an awesome razor - 15/16 and made from one of those Solingen #14 blanks also used by Filarmonica, Guillermo Hoppe et al. then ground in Sheffield by Terry.
From the grind and the solid plastic scales, I'd guess this is from the 1920's which must surely be the Golden Age of straight razor design.
And what an amazing shave!
The guy I bought this from explained that it belonged to his grandfather and they found it amongst his things after he had passed away.
His grandfather had really looked after this razor and it was still sharp, so I'm pleased to say that it is truly being appreciated and enjoyed here in Devon.
A Chinese businessman appreciates Sheffield so much, that he is investing 1 Billion Pounds ($1,310,000,000)
to transform it from a sleepy industrial town into a major tourist attraction.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/search?q=chinese sheffield
to transform it from a sleepy industrial town into a major tourist attraction.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/search?q=chinese sheffield
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Great looking Mouse Hole! Appears to be a later one with a more refined shape. Mine was very stout & stocky. Wish I still had it! My main anvil back when I was blacksmithing was an Armstrong 156Lb. that was in good shape when I got it. Just a few dings here & there to repair. In the next year or two I plan on setting up another shop to mainly make razors, knives & such. Also make billets of pattern weld steel for sale to pay for it all. Starting to look for an air hammer or a 100 Lb Little Giant.I've got a couple pieces of Sheffield steel, both pretty old.
The first is a unknown maker dating from roughly 1787 to 1810, near wedge, ~4/8, stub tail, horn handle with inlayed "1".
The second dates from 1820 to 1835....
but it's an anvil(sorry for the bad pic, its all I've got right now)
it's a 1820-1835 Mousehole forge anvil from Sheffield, body of wrought iron, face/horn of steel, marked weight is 129lbs, scale weight is 127.2. and once I get a stand for my forge built, it'll be used to create some straight razors, among other things.
I am fond of my Sheffield razors and have collected a few. There are two George Butlers, a Myers, an Alfred Bentley, a Clarke & Son, a Joseph Allen "Non XLL", a Joseph Rodgers, a Mappin & Webb and a nice near wedge carrying only the name Thornhill New Bond St. I also have some Cadman Bengalls - three in fact. The one I have pictured here is a favourite at present. I don't know why exactly but I suspect that it is quite an old one. Maybe one of you experts might recognise it!
C.
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