Wade & Butcher is one of the most valuable straight razor brands a razor enthusiast can own. Founded by the brothers William and Samuel Butcher in Sheffield in 1818, the company later partnered with Robert Wade and introduced its products to the American market. Continuing production until 1959, the company produced many cutlery goods besides razors. Wade & Butcher straight razors are characteristically cleaver-like razors that are very large, thick and heavy, often with near-wedge grind. These razors have high quality steels and workmanship, generally harder than average Sheffield razors but still easy to hone. They take a comfortable and durable edge. Due to their heavy weight, they shave effortlessly. As they have a thick grind they can be restored very efficiently unlike the old German straight razors with very thin grinds and can be used for many years. If you have a Wade & Butcher straight razor, even your great-grandchild can use it years later if it is properly cared for. For these reasons, Wade & Butcher straight razors are sought after razors with high collection value, very desirable for every razor enthusiast in the world today.
This Wade & Butcher Straight Razor which we estimate it to be about 170 years old, is an 15/16” size razor in very good condition with a near wedge grind. It is very clean except for a few small old pitting. It is completely hand worked and then polished to a mirror shine. For such a special razor, there could be no a better choice than deer antler, which is one of the highest-grade scale materials available for straight razor restorations. After days of hard work, this beauty came out. We are sure that this razor will be the most precious piece of your collection.
Straight Razor Care Instructions
Unlike any other shaving tools, straight razors require special care. The cutting edge must be protected from impacts and contact with any hard surface. After each shave you must clean and dry your straight razor with a soft paper towel without touching the very edge and strop it to keep it sharp. You can strop on the canvas side of your strop to clean the cutting edge after each shave. Please do not try to sharpen your straight razor by yourself if you don’t have adequate honing experience, otherwise you can cause irreparable damage. You may consult our straight razor honing service. If you won’t be using your straight razor for a long time, it’s best to cover it with a thin coat of oil to keep it rust free. This is especially important for straight razors with carbon steels, as carbon steel is very prone to rust in humid conditions. Keep your straight razor in a dry place and out of children’s reach.
CAUTION: Straight razors are serious tools for experienced users who know their faces, skins, whisker types and how to lather well. They can cause serious accidents and injuries in the hands of people without enough experience. If you’re enthusiastic about traditional wet shaving but don’t have the experience needed for using a straight razor, then we recommend checking out our double edge safety razors first.