Vintage Chinese Straights?

[Cambouis]

Totally forgot until about 2am I bolted out of bed and remembered

Bought these from Jeremy about 2-3 years ago

Front

Back

The makers mark are very very deep so I doubt they got "restored" out of existence

This is a mystery that has plagued Jeremy (brooksie) and I for years

The Maltese cross reminds me of Joseph Rodgers, Sheffield.

C.

 

[Heespharm]

The Maltese cross reminds me of Joseph Rodgers, Sheffield.

C.

Me too but why "F"

 

[Cambouis]

Me too but why "F"

Ha ha! Perhaps the grinder made a mistake and wanted to express his frustration!

I suppose it could be a model designation or series letter perhaps? Or even the grinder's initial?

C.

 

[mjclark]

Totally forgot until about 2am I bolted out of bed and remembered

Bought these from Jeremy about 2-3 years ago

Front

Back

The makers mark are very very deep so I doubt they got "restored" out of existence

This is a mystery that has plagued Jeremy (brooksie) and I for years

Wow! Thanks for posting the photos.
Identical characters to my blades - but mine definitely don't have the +F mark anywhere.

There were just so many Sheffield manufacturers and a lot just stamped cryptically (like those big GB Anchor choppers from George Brittain) so could be anything.

The tails on these blades are very distinctive too.

 

[Xury]

Now I am curious, are there any reputable Chinese razors in production? I know Korea/Russia has some, but have never heard about any from China itself.

 

[Xury]

P.S. other than Gold Dollars, of course.

 

[Heespharm]

Found this talking about old scalping knives

But I checked the source listed and no identical marks were listed


If it were Joseph Rodgers it would be a six pointed star and a Maltese cross

 

[Heespharm]

Also could be something like this where the style of "f" marked the year

 

[mjclark]

Well respect is due to whoever made these.

The second one of the set shaves just as beautifully as the first:

 

[mjclark]

Just found this on a Sheffield knives forum:

The "Capital F below Maltese Cross " trademark was used by Hiram Cutler in the 1850's.
They had taken over the firm of Furness earlier in the century which fits with what you posted [MENTION=50766]Heespharm[/MENTION]

And the period is exactly right.

So it looks like these "Chinese" razors are from Hiram Cutler of Sheffield.

 

[Heespharm]

Just found this on a Sheffield knives forum:

The "Capital F below Maltese Cross " trademark was used by Hiram Cutler in the 1850's.
They had taken over the firm of Furness earlier in the century which fits with what you posted [MENTION=50766]Heespharm[/MENTION]

And the period is exactly right.

So it looks like these "Chinese" razors are from Hiram Cutler of Sheffield.

Brooksie are u seeing this???? It's been finally solved!!!!!

God bless crowd sourcing and the internet

 

[mjclark]

Brooksie are u seeing this???? It's been finally solved!!!!!

God bless crowd sourcing and the internet

And God bless Hiram Cutler and his magnificent "Chinese" razors!

 

[Brooksie967]

Wooo!

 

[Cambouis]

Very interesting and a great piece of research.

Mind you I doubt Joseph Rodgers & Co would have seen the joke having registered their Maltese cross in 1681!

C.