Sheffield steel?

[JamieM]

Making Sheffield steel by hand, Huntsman steelworks Attercliffe Yorkshire, that's what you call labour intensive, everyone of those guys is as fit as a Butcher's Dog.

 

[BlacknTan]

Making Sheffield steel by hand, Huntsman steelworks Attercliffe Yorkshire, that's what you call labour intensive, everyone of those guys is as fit as a Butcher's Dog.

And as hard as a busload of skinheads!

 

[Grayswandir]

A few points to ponder..

Are there any custom razor makers using a close approximation of the alloy that was known as ":Sheffield Steel" during the "Golden Age" of bladesmithing in the UK a century.. or more, ago?
I know that Ulrik at Koraat makes a Sheffield style razor, but I asssume using the same alloys as his other blades. The older Sheffield blades were highly smooth shavers, and whether this can be attributed to the steel used or not, I just don't know. But, I'm sure one of the big concerns producees an alloy that must be similar to what was known as "Sheffield Steel."
In a similar vein, does anyone know what happened to the gent, from South Africa if memory serves, that purchased the rights to the Wade & Butcher name, and had plans to reproduce various models of W&B?

I'd like a true vintage style, without having to make my way through the used market for something so old and venerable...

I think steel plays a big role on how the shave turns out. I've honed enough razors in the exact same way, yet the results were not always the same. Some razors were just sublime, while others were step or two below, despite using the same stones and techniques on the other razors. I loved the steel found on the second gen. Filarmonica Doble Temples, though I have no idea what type of steel it was made from or where it came from? I just recently restored and honed an old Fama razor, made by Hartkopf Cutlery Co., Solingen, Germany. I sold that razor to a barber and he really liked the edge. I have to say, the edge was buttery smooth, yet very sharp.

I guess it could be that the tempering of the steel might be just as important as the steel itself, but maybe I'm way off? A substandard steel might not take as good a temper as a more quality steel would. I imagine carbon percentage plays a role as well, along with different ways to temper a blade. I'm not a blacksmith so I'm just thinking out loud.

I did just finish up a really nice German razor made from Sheffield Steel (maybe early to mid 20th century Sheffield steel?). Now I'm really looking forward to shaving with it just to see how it performs.

I signed up for updates to the new W&B venture, but I think it all went to pot.

Edit: I failed to mention bevel angle, I'm sure that plays a role as well. So many parameters.