With 19th century Sheffield razors the most succinct answer is deeply unsatisfying: we simply don’t know.
But it has a clear manufacturer’s stamp!
And yet, the answer is the same.
While that answer is disappointing, understanding the reason why is more interesting.
Edward Allison and his wife Mary had a daughter, Catherine, in September 1819. Catherine’s baptism record lists her father as a razorsmith, but he doesn’t appear in any of the business directories until late 1820 when Pigot lists him as a Razor manufacturer and operator of the tavern The Barrel. Both the tavern and the razor manufacturing were in Little Sheffield.
Hawcroft & Pearson are first listed as operating from Eldon street in 1834. It’s hard to say if that’s when the business was founded.
Benjamin Huntsman wanted to make better watch springs. He went to great lengths to do it, supposedly burying his failed experiments so no one else would find them.
Jared and his father Reuben were both staunch members of the Ashfield Temperance society. This, likely, put them in direct opposition to Jasper Bement, one of the wealthiest men in Ashfield and owner of the tavern. My main candidate and first cousin to Jared.