Direct from France

This forum is for the straight razor collectors among us. Please stop by and share your knowledge, show off your razors, ask questions, or just look around.
Post Reply
User avatar
Owd Wullie
Posts: 3622
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 2009 4:31 am
Location: Macomb, MO

Direct from France

Post by Owd Wullie »

Via the UK.. :wink:
A "gentleman's 5 day set".
All nicely enclosed in box with strops built in to the box
Image

Top is hinged with and interesting closure. All the pieces fit snugly inside.
Image

Set consists of a handle and 5 blades.
Image

The design of the handles and stubby tang would lead one to believe this is a mid 1700's to early 1800's set.
Such is not the case. It was made in France during a retro period of manufacture that occurred in the 1840's to 1860's. Also around that time it seems that every major and minor maker was desperately trying to reinvent the wheel as to removable blades and patent infringements ran rampant

The only markings on this set are the number "1".
Image

The tang is marked as are the blades.
Image

The closest anyone has come to identifying this set is from a drawing that is in one volume of a set of six by a Camile Paige published in the late 1800's. The books are in French and th owner of the book this plate is from is an Israeli. He says his comprehension of written French is poor at best.
Image
The drawing at the top is close but not exactly like the set's.

At the moment I'm stalled out on this one. It's cleaned up a bit from the pics and oiled. I doubt I'll try honing any of the blades and trying a shave with it.

Although I did get this beast cleaned up, honed, and shaved with it today. :)
Image
I'm not a fan of full hollows for shaving but that big boy has a very stiff blade and shaves nicely.

It appears to me to be reground blade. It was common to have a big wedge reground to hollow after the wedge got to the point it was hard to sharpen and to get a few more years of life from a blade. I suspect this one was an 8/8 with a hollow point at one time judging from the scales.
Member of The West Texas Chapter Of Gun Ownin', Pickup Truck Drivin', Jingoistic, Right Wing, History Changin', Huge Carbon Footprint Leavin' Conspirators.
User avatar
Miller Bro's
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 11618
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:22 pm
Location: Earth

Re: Direct from France

Post by Miller Bro's »

That is an unusual one Willie ::nod::

I like it! 8) ::tu::
AAPK Janitor
369
User avatar
Owd Wullie
Posts: 3622
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 2009 4:31 am
Location: Macomb, MO

Re: Direct from France

Post by Owd Wullie »

Thanks D, it's a neat set.

I just traded it off for a couple of old timers. One W&B "Celebrated Old Army Razor" and the other a BIG George Savage and Son. :roll: :mrgreen:

Both that I traded for are from about the same era.
Image

Image

Image

Image
Member of The West Texas Chapter Of Gun Ownin', Pickup Truck Drivin', Jingoistic, Right Wing, History Changin', Huge Carbon Footprint Leavin' Conspirators.
User avatar
Miller Bro's
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 11618
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:22 pm
Location: Earth

Re: Direct from France

Post by Miller Bro's »

Owd Wullie wrote:I just traded it off for a couple of old timers
::tear:: ::tear:: ::tear:: ::uc::
AAPK Janitor
369
User avatar
Owd Wullie
Posts: 3622
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 2009 4:31 am
Location: Macomb, MO

Re: Direct from France

Post by Owd Wullie »

Miller Bro`s wrote:
Owd Wullie wrote:I just traded it off for a couple of old timers
::tear:: ::tear:: ::tear:: ::uc::
LOL

I want razors I can use. ;) That set was too nice to put back to work.
Member of The West Texas Chapter Of Gun Ownin', Pickup Truck Drivin', Jingoistic, Right Wing, History Changin', Huge Carbon Footprint Leavin' Conspirators.
User avatar
Miller Bro's
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 11618
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:22 pm
Location: Earth

Re: Direct from France

Post by Miller Bro's »

Owd Wullie wrote:I want razors I can use.
I don`t ::nod:: :lol:

I want unusual stuff I will never use, like that razor ::drool:: ::drool:: :lol:
AAPK Janitor
369
User avatar
Owd Wullie
Posts: 3622
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 2009 4:31 am
Location: Macomb, MO

Re: Direct from France

Post by Owd Wullie »

Trade fell through. LOL

He decided he just couldn't part with that personalized W&B.. :roll:
Member of The West Texas Chapter Of Gun Ownin', Pickup Truck Drivin', Jingoistic, Right Wing, History Changin', Huge Carbon Footprint Leavin' Conspirators.
User avatar
FRJ
Posts: 15141
Joined: Fri May 14, 2010 1:43 pm
Location: Ct.

Re: Direct from France

Post by FRJ »

By the way, Willie, I Googled Ernest Gann from your books in the background.
What a guy!
Joe
User avatar
Owd Wullie
Posts: 3622
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 2009 4:31 am
Location: Macomb, MO

Re: Direct from France

Post by Owd Wullie »

He's probably my favorite aviation writer. AS you can probably tell. LOL

His book FATE IS THE HUNTER is a book I re-read about every year or so. It's a chronicle of his flying career and very interesting.



W
Member of The West Texas Chapter Of Gun Ownin', Pickup Truck Drivin', Jingoistic, Right Wing, History Changin', Huge Carbon Footprint Leavin' Conspirators.
Post Reply

Return to “Straight Razor Collector's Forum”