Wade and Butcher large wedge help

[elmerwood]

Whats going on guys. I have recently acquired this W&B wedge and was trying to figure out what scales it is set in and maybe the inscription on the blade. The scales look to be bone, but are very yellow/orange in color when compared to most other bone scale razors I've owned. The blade I can partially read " Wade and Butcher celebrated" on top, and underneath in a fancy text is very hard to see but the last word is "razor". I've looked at google images trying to find one with similar text but have come up empty. Any ideas of what the bottom says? My other question is about the scales and if they're bone, do different bones like camel or deer have different colors to them?

Thanks guys!
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[ANeat]

It probably says "Hollow Ground Razor"

 

[elmerwood]

It probably says "Hollow Ground Razor"

I'm no expert on straights but I didn't think a wedge could be a Hollow Ground Razor". I thought a hollow ground has a concave in the blade?

 

[Mike H]

Perhaps it says Celebrated Fine India Steel Razor
Looks like Ivory with a silver escutcheon. Very nice razor!

Could it look something like this?

 

[ANeat]

Looks hollow ground to me but its tough to tell from the pics. A true wedge will be just that, straight sides from the spine to the edge. A pic of the end of the blade would tell.

This is a frame back but you can see the "wedge"

 

[ANeat]

Or like Mike said

 

[smalltank]

looks like a 1/2 hollow or 3/4 hollow grind to me..what are you using to clean it up with?

 

[ANeat]

Just nosing around I also seen a "Diamond Edge Razor" from W&B

 

[Wid]

It's a near wedge, 1/4 grind at best.

 

[robellison01]

Early Sheffield cutlers used the term hollow ground pretty loosely in some examples I've seen. One such blade that I owned was a rattler grind by later standards, but it was etched "hollow ground".

On the scales, it's hard to tell, but are you sure they aren't ivory?

 

[elmerwood]

looks like a 1/2 hollow or 3/4 hollow grind to me..what are you using to clean it up with?

The photos make it look like it could be a 1/2 or hollow, but I'm almost sure if I put a straight edge on it there would be no gap or very minimal at most.
I haven't tried to clean it with anything yet. I don't like to take the chance of breaking or ruining the piece, I like to leave those odds to the new owner.

 

[elmerwood]

Perhaps it says Celebrated Fine India Steel Razor
Looks like Ivory with a silver escutcheon. Very nice razor!

Could it look something like this?

View attachment 320574

I guess I will test it tonight to see if it is in fact ivory. The only reason I didn't think ivory was because it was so yellow. The pieces that I own and have sold all have been white. A little Google search and sure enough "Ivory will also turn yellow/orange when exposed to sulfur, and must therefore not be stored with keratin-based objects such as ...."

 

[elmerwood]

By the way thanks for all the help too. I will also check the blade to see if it is a true wedge or 1/4 grind etc.

 

[gruntedshaves]

get that barbers notch out and put a mean Spanish and or irish point on there! lol. and I have no real input on this, I just wanted to subscribe and see it later! lol

 

[elmerwood]

Perhaps it says Celebrated Fine India Steel Razor

Found it. Looks like this one



Thanks Mike

 

[life2short1971]

I think thats a microtome. Sure looks it to me with the exception of the barbers notch. I wonder if maybe it was repurposed?

 

[Wullie]

Take a No 2 lead pencil. Sharpen it. Use the point to scribble on the blade. Resharpen as necessary. When you've done the whole blade face, the steel will feel smoother. Wipe it with a soft cloth. You should be able to make out any of the etch that is left.

That was a "hollow ground" razor for that era. The wheels they used to grind cutlery were rather LARGE at that point in time. It wasn't till the 1889's that the hollow grinds we are familiar with today became the "norm" for hollow grinding.

Nice old razor. I suspect the scales may be ivory that has yellowed nicely. Close examination with a magnifying glass will tell you as ivory has no pores like bone does.

Clean it up a bit, hone it and use it.