W&B used many marks for their razors. Edit: ...it has a bow on it because it is one of "Wade & Butcher's famous keen shaving bow razors;" and no, I do not know what makes a razor a 'bow' razor, other than the tang stamp. Edit 2: I'm guessing the Bow came before the Arrow, in the timeline of trademarks. The Bow was used until at least the 1920's, well after the Arrow trademark started being used.
I have zero "Proof" but I did hear it was a marketing campaign to answer the Wostenholm "Pipe" series or perhaps the other way around Basically, these companies had many marketing ploys that were all over the place to us, but made sense to them
Back then, their marketing was on their razors, and they had to stand out, above the competition. Fancy inlayed scales, unique stamps on the tang, overly decorative designs on the blades. ..
It's possible, but my gut feeling is that it isn't. Shape of the tang, blade shape, point shape etc. Just doesn't scream W&B. Edit: not saying it couldn't be a W&B, just that it doesn't have the tell-tale characteristics that make a W&B razor stand out from it's contemporaries.
I only thought that because "The celebrated medium size hollow ground razor" is what W&B often also writes on its blades.
Here's one, though the seller does not list it as a W&B razor, it shows strong W&B characteristics. Other definite W&B razors with that phrase on the blade have late 1800-early 1900 styling. Edit: Other companies use "the celebrated" etch on their razors as well, if not that specific phrase. between the Sheffield make and the etch, I would upgrade my doubt to "it's probably a Wade & Butcher made razor." I would also guess that it was a factory second, or sold under a hardware or department store brand, rather than the W&B name, though that truly is just that, a guess.
