Vintage Early 1900's WH Morley & Sons Straight Razor
W. H. Morley and Sons, known today as having produced some of the most “forgiving” straight razors on the market, was a short-lived trademark owned by German-born Adolph Kastor’s company between 1913 and 1927. Although the four-leaf clover-branded razors were only in production for fourteen years, they are well known in straight razor enthusiast circles for taking and holding an edge easily, and for being sturdy and difficult to damage. Some of the very earliest models featured scales of bone or horn, and brass wedges.
Adolph Kastor left Germany in 1870 and joined his uncle, Aaron, in New York, where he worked for his uncle’s hardware supply company. Within a few short years, young Adolph had set his sights on opening his own business, and in 1876 did so, founding Kastor & Brothers, a company that imported German-manufactured knives. Twenty-one years later, the Dingley Tariff, designed to promote local manufacture, made importing too expensive and Kastor’s company started to manufacture their own blades. In 1901, they bought out the Camillus Knife Company and renamed the company the Camillus Cutlery Company, which ran in parallel with Kastor & Bros.
In 1913, the company started importing straight razors from Germany again, this time with the brand name W.H. Morley & Sons, and sporting the four-leafed clover on the tang. Morley “Clovers” make superb collectibles and daily shavers. Some of the razors also came with a bull hunting scene pressed into the scales.
It is in great overall condition with no rust. Very well looked after considering it's age. As can be expected after 90+ years, there is some slight patina and pitting on the blade. Comes in a box which probably does not belong to this razor. The box is in fair condition.
The blade will need honing should you want to shave with it. And the traditional way to hone it, is on a leather strop.
And the opinions are universal - there is NO shave like a straight razor shave. Bear in mind that razor manufacturers have moved away from traditional shaving methods to disposable and cartridge systems. WHY? There is no money in it for them with straight razors and even safety razors because they last for ever and DE safety blades are as cheap as chips.
There is a HUGE resurgence worldwide to the traditional wet shave. And the reasons are simple:
1) The best shaves ever
2) Very cheap
3) Very satisfying - nothing like a clean shaved face
4) The nostalgia, the ritual and the smell
And ask yourself the question: Why do all professional barbers worldwide still use traditional shaving tools? So come on people, join the millions who know what a shave should be like!
Here is a nice video tutorial on a straight razor shave - check it out!:
