Thread: The Stub-Tailed Shavers

Niiiiiice!

Hey guys..I have been loosely following this thread on and off for a while now. You guys got some very nice steel showing off here. Props to ya .

That Hiver is beautiful. How does it shave, and how does it compare to a more modern one?
Cheers,
Rob

Originally Posted by Frankenstein

That Hiver is beautiful. How does it shave, and how does it compare to a more modern one?
Cheers,
Rob

Great shaver, the steel is a bit softer than modern steel - more comfortable but more touching up too! It's amazing to think it's original owner probably wore a wig and carried a sword!

Here is a 4 Dollar oldy that has a history that I imagine. Probably bought new in the very early 1800s. It had a lot of use and the scales were replaced. The job was rushed but... It would appear that the replacement was by the owner who may have been a journeyman cabinet maker. The scales, though roughly finished, appear to be of a good quality rosewood. The pinning left something to be desired so when re-assembling it I used the original washers and bodged the new pivot pin to match the older work, now to add a bit of oily grease onto the pivot washers and voila!.
The sad part is..like so many of the old razors, It will not accept a honing to shave ready. so I am oiling her and she will go into a display box with some other old

Originally Posted by Geezer

like so many of the old razors, It will not accept a honing to shave ready.

May I ask what do you mean by this? I have decided to reduce my collection to pre-Madrid razors only, you are scaring me...

Do not fear! Old razors may be, individually, good or bad. The temper may be good or bad. We all make poor choices while learning about razors. It is a part of the game of collecting and using old stuff! No-one gets bye free of error! Is a razor very old and would it look nice in a collection? Will it shave well? Maybe yes or no.
Remember, that the processes used were developed by craftsmen and as human beings, they had good and bad days at work. I have some early 1800's razors that are fine.

If an old razor that was surface hardened and tempered by the case hardening process has been honed a great deal, it may be that the surface hardening has been honed through and leaves the not so tempered core metal at the surface.

A suggestion: If the tip of the shaving edge is worn more than the rest of the cutting edge, there may be some problem with that razor holding a shaving edge. In the bottom picture, look at the hone line on the razor above. The bevel gets much wider toward the tip and the tip of the razor curves upward a lot. That tip curve does not mean that a razor is bad by itself, but may be an indication. Many early Razors had an up-curved cutting edge.
Early razors are a class by themselves till late in the 1820s and their shape and bevel may be somewhat different than newer styles And, I cannot say how they differ, you must study for yourself.
See Wikipedia:Case_hardening

Here's my additions








I don't have any information for this razor, It looks to me to say "E-M&C" and then some other symbol, not sure what. Can anyone help? Anybody out there recognize the stamp?



Now the second one is also a mystery,


Stamped "Warranted"


The razor still has a faint etch on the blade, it appears to be the same or similar etch as the one in the picture that clavichord posted earlier on in this thread:

Originally Posted by clavichord

Attachment 25460

Is it possible that this is one of the same maker? or is this a common etch found on different makers of around that time? Anyone know?

the same or similar etch

I don't think, that the same.

Originally Posted by manah

I don't think, that the same.

I had a closer inspection today under various lights today, this's what I could see, it was too faint to get a photo of it.