God Shave the Queen - Royal Warrants

Cobo · 05-13-2008, 09:58 PM

I'm making this post to create a place for owners of various razors made by Cutlers holding a Royal Warrant to discuss their favorite aquisistions.

Perhaps with time we can even begin to make a rough resource referencing which cutlers held warrants from which royal families at which times.

Currently I only own two razors made by holders of Royal Warrants, a Harrison Brothers and Howson, made during the reign of Queen Victoria and a Joseph Mappin Sun Razor, made earlier in the Queen's reign.

I'll post a couple pictures of the two together ASAP.

JMS · 05-14-2008, 07:46 AM

I have two Harrison Bros. and Howson straights! A matched set actually, which may be my favorites! I also have a four razor set by Mappin & Webb. These are the "trustworthy" trademark! I also have a seven day set of Joseph Rodgers that are being restored right now!

Cobo · 05-14-2008, 03:03 PM

Very nice! Do you have any pictures or approximate dates for the razors?

I'll admit that my Mappin is yet to really win me over, but that's largely because of honing issues coming as a result of abuse by the former owner. They left truly brutal (and wildly uneven) hone wear in their wake. It's coming along, though, and I can tell from the areas that do sharpen up nice that I no doubt will fall in love with it.

My Harrison Bros and Howson, though, I love. My other razors have no, or very little, smile so I have to take special care when I strop, but when I do.... The shaves are a thing of beauty. My rotation is really much more of a 'I feel like this razor today' than a true rotation, and currently, the Harrison Bros gets used roughly every third day or so, with my other razors filling in the gaps. :P

Fortytwoblades · 05-23-2008, 01:41 PM

I have a Joseph Rodgers and Sons that I picked up for $6.00 at an antique tool store. It needs a little work before it's back in shaving shape, but it's not far off and the blade is still bright.

edit to add: tang stamp reads "Joseph Rodgers and Sons, Cutlers to Their Majesties, No. 6 Folk Street, Sheffield England"

Stagga100 · 05-23-2008, 01:53 PM

I have a Thomas Turner & Sons cutlers to His Majesty. Don't know which His Majesty but I would have a guess at George VI! Its currently with Traveller to have some custom scales. Will post some pictures of it when I get it back all shiny and looking new!!

Rick

blueprinciple · 05-24-2008, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fortytwoblades

I have a Joseph Rodgers and Sons that I picked up for $6.00 at an antique tool store. It needs a little work before it's back in shaving shape, but it's not far off and the blade is still bright.

edit to add: tang stamp reads "Joseph Rodgers and Sons, Cutlers to Their Majesties, No. 6 Folk Street, Sheffield England"

Joe Rogers was at NORFOLK street, just to be right. The issue of Royal Warrants merely means that the named company has been approved by the Royal Household as suppliers of certain goods. It is NOT an endorsement! Currently (after the death of Queen Eliazabeth the Queen Mother) there are only three people able to grant these, viz.- Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Charles. Exclusive club, eh?

'Cutlers to their majesties' is Victoria and Albert (the old queen never removing Albert's name from their reign), whilst 'Cutlers to His Majesty' usually meant King Edward VII or more unusually King George V. Hope this helps!

littlesilverbladefromwale · 06-06-2008, 07:20 PM

I have been told that Rodgers razors that were intended for export from 'Old Blighty' were marked Rogers and razors for the home market were marked Rodgers!!!

superfly · 06-06-2008, 07:28 PM

I have one of the Thomas Turner's, too... it says on the blade "Sharper than a serpant's tooth" keeewl...

Nenad

ragnost · 06-06-2008, 07:56 PM

I just received a Thomas Turner marked Hollow Ground Razor on the blade and a Mappin Brothers marked Queens Cutlery Works on the tang I don’t know if that is just the name of the forge or reference to the queen both of e-bay, both need a lot of work done to them the Mappin Bros looks like bone scales with either a pewter or lead spacer, will post photo’s before and after work done

Doc · 06-21-2008, 08:19 AM

come on gentlemen step right up, step right up. A troubling situation has arrived in the razor club and that is the use of thumbnail pictures. I know that some of you old timers still remember when the razor clubs were a thing of beauty! with large glossy pictures of razors and we viewed until our hearts content. but those days are through it would seem. I beseech all the members of the razor clubs to take the poll in the general section and vote to restore large pictures to our beloved razor clubs. It is up to us gent and together we can restore these clubs to there former glory!!!!!!
__________________

crichton · 07-09-2008, 03:22 AM

I have three Mappin & Webb "Trustworthy" straights, all purchased from Jasper Kade. One blade-only, one with cracked scales and one completely intact. These will all see the resto bench once I'm moved....

Doc · 07-09-2008, 06:12 AM

Crichton you always have the nicest toys!!!!!

Sandcounty · 08-19-2008, 06:11 PM

Joseph Mappin & Brothers Queen's Cutlery Works. There aren't enough pics in this thread!!!

Sandcounty · 08-20-2008, 05:35 PM

I don't think this one will ever be a shaver. The blade has a pretty good twist to it. Cool stamp though.

Sandcounty · 08-23-2008, 05:03 PM

Another Joseph Rodgers with its original coffin box. It has a similar stamp to the razor above, but without the 'Cutlers,' and the portion of the stamp below Rodgers is gone. Probably a little older, having a short monkey tail.

Sandcounty · 08-24-2008, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueprinciple

'Cutlers to their majesties' is Victoria and Albert (the old queen never removing Albert's name from their reign), whilst 'Cutlers to His Majesty' usually meant King Edward VII or more unusually King George V. Hope this helps!

Was Victoria the first to grant a 'royal warrant' ? I'm curious because her reign began in 1837. And Edward and George came later. Please correct me if I'm wrong. I'm trying to determine if the last razor that I posted predates royal warrants or if they were granted before the reigns of those mentioned above. The tang stamp is different from the razor above it, in that it doesn't have 'cutlery' on the same line as the 'Rodgers.' Although, there was something below which is no longer legible. But the shape of the blade (of the last razor) leads me to believe that it is pre-Victoria. Any thoughts?

littlesilverbladefromwale · 08-24-2008, 09:49 AM

I'd have said the one with GRl was made during George IV's reign 1820-1830, but could be older.

timberrr59 · 08-30-2008, 02:24 PM

I have a 6/8 wedge that is tang- marked "silver steel warranted" with no manufacturer name. There is an "r" perpenducular to "silver steel". The font of the letters look like it might be a Fredrick Reynolds. There is a barley visible crown-looking logo near the little "r". It is between the blade and the tang. Could this mean that the razor is warranted during Queen Victoria Years? I have high hopes for this old re-ground razor. I just like it a lot. History makes it more appreciated and will give me more latitude for taking such time restoring and using it. Ain't all this a lot of fun!... Thanks, Robert

JMS · 09-25-2008, 06:52 AM

Here are my all time favorites to shave with!

littlesilverbladefromwale · 09-25-2008, 11:16 AM

I like those