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The Razor: This is an unusual large-ish frameback cutthroat straight razor manufactured by theSheffield cutler, George Wostenholm & Son. It boasts a unique design and nice clear stamp on the tang, stating, "Registered 10 Sep 1850 I*XL No 2434." The Stamp on the spine is partial, originally stating, "Wostenholm & Son's Doubly Carbonized I*XL Razor." It has its original dark horn scales and brass collars, which have been cleaned and polished. The original wedge is lead. The tang has nice grippy jimps on the bottom to enhance control in use.
George Wostenholm's cutlery wasrenowned throughout the 19th century for its top quality. He was certainly a giant among the Sheffield cutlers. The Sheffield cutlers of the 19th century were constantly innovating/improving their steels and the fact that this "Doubly Carbonized" blade was actually patented signals that it may have been a significant milestone in Wostenholm's quest for ever-finer steel, process and design.
It has been restored, as described below.
The Work:I refurbished this razor by removing all rust and as much of the pitting and discoloration as I could without endangering its lines and original essence, polishing it to a nice satin sheen. I cleaned and polished the original dark horn scales, which are in quite good condition. Less visible to the eye, I also added brass washers to the pivot to reduce future wear and enhance its already impressive longevity.
I honed this razor with great care, as I would for my own razors I use for personal daily use.
This razor was honed with the following progression with 2 layers of tape to protect the spine and optimize bevel angle:
Shapton Kuromaku Ceramic 2k
Shapton Kuromaku Ceramic 5k
Suehiro Kouseki 10k
Maruka Narutaki Asagi
Vintage Scottish Linen Fire Hose Strop
Tony Miller Rough Out Strop
Tony Miller Fast Bridle Strop
My Story: I fell in love with vintage straight razors some years back when I became irritated with the exorbitant cost of disposable razor cartridges. Utilizing my background in jewelry and sculpture,I taught myself to refurbish antique straight razors, to make custom razor scales, to pin them properly,and, through great effort and dedication, have gained a reputation for nicely honed shaving edges. Each of these blades is a journey, with a history. A man's hands created it long ago to last for generations. You and I are part of those generations. I try to be sensitive and cognizant of the historical context of each razor, as well as the spirit and intentions of the original blade-maker so that I may bring them back to life for you, my customer.
FYI: any props used in photos (sharpening stones, rulers, etc.) are not for sale as part of this listing unless specifically detailed in the title and description sections of the listing
