Thread: Some Sheffield Mystery Razors

Picked up a couple for cheap, and have been searching around but couldn't turn up anything on these. The first one has the typical royal warrant crown, but with a definite "L R" underneath the crown. I couldn't find any monarchs starting with L. Any ideas on this one? The manufacturers mark says either "Hirsch" or "Kirsch" & "Ste..." (maybe stern), Sheffield. Looks like "1909" is scribed upside down on one scale. Pics, sorry about quality:





The other one just says "Celebrated.C.Steel.Razor.Set for Use". I'm guessing C stands for cast steel. Nice 8/8+ big wedge, guessing around 1850s? Any ideas as to the maker?

Guessing that is no L, but in stead an E (= King Edward VII; 22 January 1901 – 6 May 1910)
That would coincide perfectly with the 1909 inscription.

Nice razors, I love old sheffields.

That would make sense. Here's a better picture with a loupe - I want to say it could be an E but the bottom lip is really big:

Both are great looking razors. That big wedge is fantastic! I love the look of the first one too. As long as there isn't any active rust on the first one...I would just hone it up and shave with it. No buffing, sanding, or polishing.

That's an impressive mystery. It's a pretty unequivocal LR stamp.

I have only ever seen three sovereign stamps, GR, WR and VR. It pretty much can't be any of those. How hollow is it? From the picture it looks quite wedgie, but if it's relatively hollow that's a probable indicator of a later date (IE, post 1850).

The stamp on the 'SET FOR USE' razor is also fairly mysterious. I know of two cutlers who used circled marks like that (Fenney and I. Pierce), but I'm sure there are plenty more. I agree it's probably C. STEEL (Cast Steel), which places it earlier than later. It's entirely possible that the original maker's name was either an etch that's worn off the face of the blade or even possibly stamped into scales, scales now long gone.

I would say quarter hollow, maybe a bit wedgier. I looked closer, and on the second one there definitely was some etching on the blade near the spine, can't make out any letters but it's in the style of the "Magnum Bonum" etching on W&Bs, a little blocked out strip at the top with a fancy script.

Originally Posted by ScienceGuy

Here's a better picture with a loupe - I want to say it could be an E

Seeing it up closer, I can't make that out to be anything but an L. Which makes no sense at all. Like Voidmonster, I have not seen a V crown E, but it would not surprise me - there was a king Edward. Before him, there was queen Victoria (1837-1901), king William (1830-1837), and 4 consecutive king Georges, (ruling from 1714-1830). In short, there were no regents with the initial L. Truly a mystery.

It is "Hirsch & Stern," founded as export merchants in 1864. Their registered offices were at 124 - 126 Edmund Street, Birmingham. Julius Lander was later a partner (Julius was Moritz Stern's nephew). The company became known as cutlery and flatware dealers. In 1929 the firm was run by Julius and his son, Cyril Lander. They ceased trading in 1933.

No real idea about the 'LR' - maybe it was a pretentious way of noting the change from messrs Hirsch and Stern to ownership by Lander and another partner whose surname began with R??? I'd really like to know the real meaning! It doesn't conform with any of the silver hallmarks or other cutlery marks of theirs I have seen to date.

Regards,
Neil

Originally Posted by ScienceGuy

Picked up a couple for cheap, and have been searching around but couldn't turn up anything on these. The first one has the typical royal warrant crown, but with a definite "L R" underneath the crown. I couldn't find any monarchs starting with L. Any ideas on this one? The manufacturers mark says either "Hirsch" or "Kirsch" & "Ste..." (maybe stern), Sheffield. Looks like "1909" is scribed upside down on one scale. Pics, sorry about quality:






The other one just says "Celebrated.C.Steel.Razor.Set for Use". I'm guessing C stands for cast steel. Nice 8/8+ big wedge, guessing around 1850s? Any ideas as to the maker?

that 8/8 is stunning!! great find!!!!!!

both really nice.. cool get!