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George Butler & Co. Keen Shakespeare Straight Razor
George Butler & Co. of Sheffield, England (Trinity Works) was one of the city's most celebrated razor makers, home to the flagship "Keen" line hand-ground by the firm's own craftsmen. This example carries the maker's tang stamp and blade etch, and was originally retailed in Canada through Nicholson's, a Toronto cutlery house, whose name is embossed on the accompanying case.
The blade is full-hollow ground carbon steel with a rounded point, set in bright yellow celluloid scales secured with brass pins. See Condition Notes below for detail.
Specifications
| Maker / Brand | George Butler & Co |
| Estimated Era | 1900s |
| Blade Material | Carbon Steel |
| Handle Material | Celluloid |
| Blade Style | Full Hollow |
| Markings / Stamp | Blade etch: "Keen as is this razor's edge invisible", Shakespeare, Love's Labour's Lost, with portrait of Shakespeare. Tang stamp: ART (trademark, in circle), George Butler & Co, Sheffield, England. |
| Includes | Original box |
Condition Grade
Excellent
Condition Notes
Blade: bright with a clean edge, no chips or cracks; etch and Shakespeare portrait remain crisp and fully legible. Scales: celluloid is glossy with no cracks or shrinkage, tight to the blade. Pivot: tight, no wobble. Case: original Nicholson's, Toronto case included; leatherette shows edge wear and a small split at the spine, hinge intact.