Mole court-sword conundrum

[Peter Hudson]

I was looking at https://www.antique-swords.co.uk/ant...ole-p162768233 and noted the similar blade style... I also note certain Canadian swords of Robert Mole as being similar...Peter Hudson.

[urbanspaceman]

Hello Peter. Thank-you, yes, a definite earlier incarnation.
I normally don't pay any attention to post 1800 swords as only Mole survived into that century... but how they survived!
Tens of thousands - if not hundreds of thousands of blades produced up until 1920 when WS merged with them. I have to assume there are a great number have survived and, given the size of our empire, can probably be found all over the world.
As I mentioned, I was looking for something a bit special and I certainly found it.

Incidentally, regarding the beginning and the end of the Shotley Bridge history:
'Bertram' was producing the finest steel in Europe and making sword-blades at his forge in Allensford nearly 20 years before the Solingen diaspora arrived in 1687, then the Wilsons were hilting and engraving them in the village.
So really, Bertram is the true beginning of the story; this is apposite because the Bertrams that moved back to Solingen, after making straight razors with a royal warrant from Victoria (we assume for Albert - but maybe not) in Sheffield, married into the poultry business in Solingen and started a company that would remain family run until the 1970s.
The Hen and Rooster Cutlery company were regarded by many as the finest producers of knives and cutlery in the world: pretty good going considering they were up against everyone in Sheffield and Solingen.

[urbanspaceman]

While I'm on the subject:
here is a straight razor from the late 1800s.
In case it is indiscernible, it says:
FINEST SHEFFIELD STEEL
FORGED AND REAL HOLLOW
GROUND IN GERMANY
They were sending Sheffield steel over to, presumably Solingen, and making razors for the British market.
Although I cannot link the example to Bertram, I am confident in suggesting there were Bertrams producing steel in Sheffield, then having razors made by the family in Solingen, then sending them back to the UK for sale.
As I said, Bertrams enjoyed the reputation of producing the finest steel in Europe.
At some point in the future I intend to establish this as fact.
BTW. Bertram is an Anglicised version of the Old High German Berhtraban: a Remscheid family.

[urbanspaceman]

just found a better example on this Gotta razor.
The Gotta razor, which used Sheffield steel, was made by Grah & Plumacher GmbH & Co. KG Stahlwarenfabrik.
Now I have to look into their history for a Bertram.

[Peter Hudson]

Fascinating stuff at...https://www.henandrooster.com/About/ Peter Hudson.

[urbanspaceman]

I know it is hardly an arms and militaria subject.
I have seriously deviated from my original thread, but Bertram was the beginning of the SB story, and he was a sword forger, so I think, tenuous though it may seem, it remains valid... just.
Wilkinson Sword entered into this century making razors, so there is not so much difference, is there?
I do remain enthusiastic regarding this business of Sheffield sending steel to Solingen to make razors for the British market... why would they do that?
It can only be because of the quality of the steel, yet there was absolutely no decline in the output quality of Solingen products, either then or now. It's very odd.
Gives me something to do.
Thanks for the link to the Hen and Rooster article Peter... as it happens, I found it earlier when I first began the research into Bertram.
(See you Wednesday in SB)

[urbanspaceman]

Here we are: confirmation of the identity of the sword that opened this thread.