Thread: Henry Sears & Son swastika emblem razor

Hello all,

I'm wondering if anyone has any information on a Henry Sears & Son 1865 Prussia straight razor. The interesting thing about it is that it has three swastika emblems on the handle. The blade is in great condition, near mint I would say, overall it's in beautiful condition, some slight wear on the handle. Still with the original box.

If anyone has any infromation I would greatly appreciate it.

We don't do pricing on this site.

Originally Posted by JohnyBlueEyes500

Hello all,

I'm wondering if anyone has any information on a Henry Sears & Son 1865 Prussia straight razor. The interesting thing about it is that it has three swastika emblems on the handle. The blade is in great condition, near mint I would say, overall it's in beautiful condition, some slight wear on the handle. Still with the original box.

If anyone has any infromation I would greatly appreciate it.

Check the SRP wiki...There may be information there. If not, then an antique dealer or pawn shop in your area my have access to a book or books for str8 razor collectors that may have the information you are seeking.

BTW...Do you have any photos of the razor that you could post?

Thanks Jhenry,

I'll have to check the SRP wiki.

I don't have any photos of it. A barber at my local shop offered to sell it to me, so I'm trying to find out a bit more about it. I'm thinking I'm going to head back there today for a different razor, so I'll see if I can't take some pictures.

I've searched Ebay and a few other sites with no results, I'm curious as to just how unique it is. The information for Henry Sears and Son that I've found said that they were based out of Chicago? Or is someone confusing them with Sears & Roebuck?

It's an interesting piece because it was obviously manufactured long before the nazi's claimed the swastika as their own.

Ok,

You're correct...I believe that what became the swastika was initially an ancient Eastern or Indian symbol. What it stood for, I don't recall, but it had nothing to do with the ideas associated with Nazism.

I believe that the Nazis appropriated that symbol and reversed the direction of it to claim that symbol as their own.

Markings or not, I would still purchase the razor from your barber--maybe try to talk him down a bit from his asking price. Henry Sears & Son is a brand listed in the SRP wiki, so it is definitely a reputable brand with a history.

I'd love to buy it. It's just a bit out of my price range, I've been trying to look around to find some comprable prices so I can make an offer. I don't think either of us really knows what it's worth.

The SRP wiki does say Henry Sears & Son was based in Chicago, but on the blade of this one it says Prussia. Were they ever based out of Europe before Chicago?

Originally Posted by JohnyBlueEyes500

I'd love to buy it. It's just a bit out of my price range, I've been trying to look around to find some comprable prices so I can make an offer. I don't think either of us really knows what it's worth.

The SRP wiki does say Henry Sears & Son was based in Chicago, but on the blade of this one it says Prussia. Were they ever based out of Europe before Chicago?

The razor manufacturer probably was...If the blade says Prussia, then it was produced before the German unification which created modern Germany in 1871.
Keep in mind too that there was a significant German immigration to the U. S. after the failed Revolution of 1848. Many of them settled in the Midwestern U. S. in states such as Minnesota or cities such as St. Louis or Indianapolis.

So the production of your razor probably occurred sometime between 1848 and 1871.

Originally Posted by JohnyBlueEyes500

I'd love to buy it. It's just a bit out of my price range, I've been trying to look around to find some comprable prices so I can make an offer. I don't think either of us really knows what it's worth.

The SRP wiki does say Henry Sears & Son was based in Chicago, but on the blade of this one it says Prussia. Were they ever based out of Europe before Chicago?

Not based in Prussia... rather, sold razors made for them with their name on the shank that had been manufactured in Germany. Very common for US hardware companies in the 19th-20th cent.

Anything associated with Germany bearing the swastika could bring a premium price, even if the markings predated the Nazis.

Originally Posted by jhenry

The razor manufacturer probably was...If the blade says Prussia, then it was produced before the German unification which created modern Germany in 1871.
Keep in mind too that there was a significant German immigration to the U. S. after the failed Revolution of 1848. Many of them settled in the Midwestern U. S. in states such as Minnesota or cities such as St. Louis or Indianapolis.

So the production of your razor probably occurred sometime between 1848 and 1871.

Very interesting, Well thank you everyone, you've been very helpful.

It says 1865 on the blade, but that is just the year the company formed right?

Since the company formed in 1865 and it says Prussia then it would have been made pre- 1871? Before it became Germany?