Wade & Butcher Hallmarks

Whiskers · 08-05-2008, 04:15 PM

Seems to me there are plenty of Wade & Butcher blades floating around out there. Does anyone know if the hallmark (Bow, arrow + cross, sheffield, etc...) relate to a particular year range?

I know that there was a law of some sort in England passed in the late 1800's where the location of manufacture had to be stamped on the blade ... hence a mile marker.

Do these maker's marks relate to, for example, a time period or a quality level/ grade ?

I find it hard to believe that this manufacturer made so many razors and such little is really known about these marks. Well, from what I can find on the internet(s) anyways...

Cheers !

littlesilverbladefromwale · 08-05-2008, 06:49 PM

IIRC the word England was added in the 1890's because it was required for imported items in either Canada or the US.
I think this applied to all makers though.
I wonder what Welsh cutlers put on their wares?

Whiskers · 08-05-2008, 06:59 PM

Thanks for the clarity ... I was not very clear on how that bit was working.

I have no idea about the Welsh .. lol.

blueprinciple · 08-05-2008, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlesilverbladefromwale

IIRC the word England was added in the 1890's because it was required for imported items in either Canada or the US.
I think this applied to all makers though.
I wonder what Welsh cutlers put on their wares?

Ah, LSBFW, do not tempt me! What indeed? Incidentally, I do hear that W&B's Maltese Cross was put on because it was easy to identify and also used by the company's founder Robert Wade. The circle 'B' is for Butcher and the arrow points towards where the safe bit of the razor is (just joking!).

Whiskers · 08-06-2008, 01:45 AM

I do believe Wade and Butcher used the arrow and cross as a patented trademark, but I think this hallmark was used late in production.

Recently, I purchased a W&B with just a bow used as a mark where the arrow and cross usually reside. The blade has an inscription defining the makers and such. Anyone know about the bow ?

blueprinciple · 08-06-2008, 09:04 AM

The bow was used on several W&B razors, usuaully with the inscription (sometimes just on the box, hence the puzzle as boxes do tend to go AWOL) 'The original and genuine Bow razor' or words very near that. In use as early as 1852. The 'B arrow cross' trademark (not hallmark, that's for precious metals only) was in use in 1819 with some variants, notably the 'XCD' and 'Special'.