Should all razors be date coded?

I don't see what difference it makes whether or not a razor is date stamped. The same razor made one year will the be the same as when it is made a different year. If changes are made to the razor, that should be reflected in an updated model or part number.

Maybe it makes no difference, however, for some people it might.  I don't know why Gillette date coded some of their razors.  I imagine it must have had something to do with inventory and quality control.  They were making so many that if some defects turned up they would want to trace them to the origin so they could fix the problem.  Provenance likely only matters after the passage of time and then only to collectors or historians.  I'm sure that when our fathers and grandfathers were buying their Gillette razors at the corner drugstore they never looked at the date code or if they did, they didn't know what it meant.  It didn't matter until later when collectors started seeking out vintage razors and the information is generally only of interest to them and those looking for a razor from their birth year/quarter.  Isn't there something kind of cool to be able to give a razor to someone that was made at roughly the same time they were?  Some of the artisan razors being made today will last a long time - machined stainless steel, copper, bronze or titanium.  Maybe they'll last forever so the more information that can be engraved on the razor the better for those that come later and wonder what it is they have in their hand and who made it.  What we do in life echoes in eternity...

I think all high end razors should have a date or some other code.  Cheaper ones really don't need it.

Great topic Marko and I’m a detail guy like Swiss on their High end watches..

If we pay for ex. Use Wolfman Razor price is not cheap but would be nice that James make serial
Number Date Coded it make razor very unique and it will make you appreciate more as collector.

I ain’t saying Wolfman is not well made etc it’s a beautiful razor great job James have done 

I know Karve does Fantastic job on their base plate and too cap on SS and few others as well.

But it’s something hopefully Artisans will add on in near future at least we can hope for it.

Alan H

I agree AlanH81  I think if customers started asking for it in greater numbers it could happen. An artisan could just do what Gillette did and put the same code on all razors made in a year/quarter which would be cheaper because they only have to use a single engraving that changes 4 times a year or a single code for a run of razors. It would be more costly to engrave each razor with a unique, sequential serial number but I think that would make them more collectible. The question the artisans have to ask themselves is , how many people actually care and is if worth the effort.  I have no idea what that would add to the cost of a razor. Italian Barber would know because he’s put serial numbers on some of his razors. The Game Changers I think.

I just checked IB and the Game Changers are unique serial number coded. It occurred to me that placing a unique serial number on the baseplate of a three piece razor is problematic in that there is no guarantee that the other parts of the razor are the same date/run or even provenance. The only way to be sure would be if the same serial number were engraved on the handle and top cap as well as the base plate. 

Gillette date coded their one piece TTO razors so handles and top caps weren’t an issue. I’d have to go look at my 3 piece Techs to see if they were date coded but I don’t think they were. I guess if you own a vintage three piece razor there’s no way of knowing if the parts you have were the same parts that left the factory in the original box. Does it matter?  I assume that each part of a 3 part razor was made independently on a separate production line and the people at the end just took each part from separate crates of individual parts and assembled and boxed each razor.

I just checked IB and the Game Changers are unique serial number coded. It occurred to me that placing a unique serial number on the baseplate of a three piece razor is problematic in that there is no guarantee that the other parts of the razor are the same date/run or even provenance. The only way to be sure would be if the same serial number were engraved on the handle and top cap as well as the base plate. 

Gillette date coded their one piece TTO razors so handles and top caps weren’t an issue. I’d have to go look at my 3 piece Techs to see if they were date coded but I don’t think they were. I guess if you own a vintage three piece razor there’s no way of knowing if the parts you have were the same parts that left the factory in the original box. Does it matter?  I assume that each part of a 3 part razor was made independently on a separate production line and the people at the end just took each part from separate crates of individual parts and assembled and boxed each razor.

They dated coded 3 pc techs and only the base plates from 1951 onward. It does matter on original caps, handles and base plates if there is enough variation in parts from a collectors standpoint. Case in point 3pc Tech razors produced during WWII especially miltary issue ones since that crosses the line from wet shaving collectible into military collectibles. Guys that want a WWII military issued razor want the correct pieces and there are ways to determine if they are from that period and if they were military issue or not. Same with Korean War issued military razors which entail all that plus date codes.

Do you want the date code of when it was made or when it was sold? If the former, would it turn you off to buy a razor with a date code from a different year than when you bought it?

I don't see what difference it makes whether or not a razor is date stamped. The same razor made one year will the be the same as when it is made a different year. If changes are made to the razor, that should be reflected in an updated model or part number.

Not true especially with molds. As the molds wear so do the tolerances in the finished casting. Case in point the Merkur Progress and the razors made prior to IIRC 2016 especially the ones made closer to 2016. They were having all sorts of QA issues at the end of that run before they had new molds done. Merkur never changed the model or part number nor should they have even though they changed the mold and some minor aesthetic markings like the triangle for the cap and base plate alignment on the newer mold. Making a new part number wasn't warranted in this case since you weren't adding new features and a new model would be foolish unless it could be differentiated from the original and not spun as an improvement or revision. Also you never admit the product was flawed when you fix it like in this case. You either fix it and don't say anything like in the old days or fix it and add some feature then call it improved to not only fix the problem but get everyone to buy the razor again for said new feature.

Hi Marko

Your absolutely right everything you said and mentioned that’s a great example Joe from Italian Barber have done it, can’t say one way or other and for price point looks and design it’s truly gamechanger for a good reason lol...

To me since I’m a detail guy it means a lot to me and unique.

I don’t think engraving would cost that much or take much work to do that there are many ways and I have done deep engraving, laser etc name it I have done it.

It also depends how much each or new artisan is willing to go that route and put effort.

Take care 

Alan H