Is there a site like http://www.mr-razor.com/ for straight razors. I want to start a collection of Straights and for me the easiest way to do this is by knowing what to look for and what I am getting as far as value. I have started with a Dubl Duck Special #1. I know Identifying razors comes with time but Im sure someone at some point has put together a website or 2 about well know straights????? Or if you know of some posts on here that will help me find the most sought after or most popular straight as far as quality and value. Thanks for your help.
Help Identify Razors
- Thread starter Jeremydelagarza
- Start date
That's a really tough one as there seems to be a 'flavour of the month' thing going on lately. There have been a number of razor brands that have had extreme hype in the past but then the talks taper off. As far as putting values on things, retail will always be more than what a collector will pay. Retail typically sells to people looking for something very specific or to someone who doesn't know the ins and outs of the marketplace. With that said, retail costs can be used to 'evaluate' the 'value' of razors.
My suggestion is to check out some of the threads on the forum like the shave of the day posts, the what did you hone today thread, the japanese razors, the sheffield razors, the huge razors, the rare razors etc. Threads for all of these exist and you're sure to see things in there that catch your eye.
My suggestion is to check out some of the threads on the forum like the shave of the day posts, the what did you hone today thread, the japanese razors, the sheffield razors, the huge razors, the rare razors etc. Threads for all of these exist and you're sure to see things in there that catch your eye.
- Thread starter
- #3
Ok thanks/ I am looking for Vintage Name brand razors. Like you said Flavor of the month razors. I know they come and go but what are the Hot Razors or have been the popular vintage razors types. I know this is wide open and its really up to your taste but im sure there are some Vintage Razor names and styles that people go after...
You can find some of the most popular names in the sticky (with very nice pictures) http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/180658-Straight-Razors-pictures-Look-in-here
And for value...ebay past auctions/BST and such...
And for value...ebay past auctions/BST and such...
- Thread starter
- #5
pmaster Thanks!! that will help alot!!! now as far as Ebay goes Do these (in General) sale for more on ebay or less on ebay than on BST??? So i can get an Idea of price.
Glad I could help. I'd say they often go a bit cheaper on the BST, but it depends also... You can find treasures on ebay for a few dollars, if you put the time and effort into restoring them (which I would encourage you to do). If you're just buying a fully restored straight, then I'd say the BST or hobbyist section is probably better. I think Brooksie put it well.
- Thread starter
- #7
I have done a good Job with My Gillettes as far as bring them back to life. I think I want to try and find the (treasures) on Ebay. I have the time to put in as far as research goes. But Time is in my favor because I can be on the Web at work and its not a big deal.
Then let the fun begin! I have found a fair amount of deals/reasonably priced straights on ebay, but some items also often go for crazy amounts. I often use gixen.com as a way to set up my maximum bid and forget about it. If I win, great, if I loose, well it was too expensive anyway.
You can also have a look at the "What straight did you use today" thread for some ideas about the different brands. Its the show-off thread
you will see some of the nicest straights in there...
You can also have a look at the "What straight did you use today" thread for some ideas about the different brands. Its the show-off thread
you will see some of the nicest straights in there...- Thread starter
- #9
oh ok and the SOTD on Google + is that the Razors to go after also?
As far as i know, no website of straight razors exist like achims. There are just too many models and in the community excitement ebbs and flows but i dint think prices change much over the past 5 years. 10 years ago prices appeared much lower, but now not so much, just a steady rise.
Straights appear as early as mid 1700s with tons of cutlers worldwide... DEs since early 1900s with gillette, merkur, eclipse, and some others...
But as far as flavour of the month... i think that this has kind of waned off. There are so many more users and sellers thst threads abound with everything that its overwhelming to figure out whats hot.. for example there 3 companes that appear to be getting some hype right now imho aust, revisor, hart but they've been discussed just as much in the past 3 years as they are now..
Plus lust worth is individual.. some want pristine mint original 5/8 or 6/8... some want 8/8+ rescaled. Some want wedges, some want super hollows..
Some only want sheffield steel, some only want swedish steel. Some like wood, some ivory, some horn, damascus, pattern welded, inox, hitachi white, barber notch, spanish, french, sqare, round, notch, double notch, jimped on one or both sides...
Dont forget all the new customs over the past 10 years.
Its just not the same as DEs.
Straights appear as early as mid 1700s with tons of cutlers worldwide... DEs since early 1900s with gillette, merkur, eclipse, and some others...
But as far as flavour of the month... i think that this has kind of waned off. There are so many more users and sellers thst threads abound with everything that its overwhelming to figure out whats hot.. for example there 3 companes that appear to be getting some hype right now imho aust, revisor, hart but they've been discussed just as much in the past 3 years as they are now..
Plus lust worth is individual.. some want pristine mint original 5/8 or 6/8... some want 8/8+ rescaled. Some want wedges, some want super hollows..
Some only want sheffield steel, some only want swedish steel. Some like wood, some ivory, some horn, damascus, pattern welded, inox, hitachi white, barber notch, spanish, french, sqare, round, notch, double notch, jimped on one or both sides...
Dont forget all the new customs over the past 10 years.
Its just not the same as DEs.
- Thread starter
- #11
Global dev. Thanks for that. I know I have to start some where. and this is it... some basic but broad questions. How can I tell how old a certain name brand razor is? Is there certain years that produced some of the best razors. for example the 1850s (name brand) razors are better than the 1900s ( same name brand ) razors. Is there threads talking about this. I know all this takes time and over the next few months and yrs ill figure out what Im into but just to start off I want to dive right in. I don't do anything half way.
It is hard to find any objective measurement.
You will find that how the razor was honed might matter most than how it was made.
Sure, with equal honing, you will be able to find some differences in how the steel feels to the skin.
A lot of it revolves around how it was ground (wedge to extra hollow or even faux frameback) and also to how the metal was tempered.
Some feel softer, some crisper and that later part is brand specific.
For example Thiers Issard tempers in molten lead to have a higher than average temper temperature Le Grelot in ice to have a lower than average one. Both are excellent blades.
Within the same brands, they sometimes procure the steel from different sources for different models. There are Le Grelot that are made of French steel, some Sheffield steel and some using Swedish one. It is hard to say one is better than the other. You might have to get one of each.
Beware, this is a dangerous addiction.
You will find that how the razor was honed might matter most than how it was made.
Sure, with equal honing, you will be able to find some differences in how the steel feels to the skin.
A lot of it revolves around how it was ground (wedge to extra hollow or even faux frameback) and also to how the metal was tempered.
Some feel softer, some crisper and that later part is brand specific.
For example Thiers Issard tempers in molten lead to have a higher than average temper temperature Le Grelot in ice to have a lower than average one. Both are excellent blades.
Within the same brands, they sometimes procure the steel from different sources for different models. There are Le Grelot that are made of French steel, some Sheffield steel and some using Swedish one. It is hard to say one is better than the other. You might have to get one of each.
Beware, this is a dangerous addiction.
here is the wiki at B&B on straight razors http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Straight_razors#History_of_Straight_Razors
http://www.amazon.com/Straight-Razor-Collecting-Illustrated-History/dp/0891451269
http://www.amazon.com/The-Razor-Anthology-various/dp/0940362171/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_3
http://www.amazon.com/Standard-Guide-Razors-Identification-Values/dp/1574320912/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_1
http://www.amazon.com/Getting-know-your-straight-razors/dp/0962098752/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_8
you can guesstimate how old a razor is based on blade grind )wedge, near wedge, full hollow), tang shape (stub, short tail, long tail) scale material (natural, ebonite, celluloid), etchings (world events), stamps text and general cutler census data
sheffield with no england stamp is 1891 threshold.. then there are warranted stamps that say to which royal, similar but different names... it's not at all like the stamps on gillette DEs
http://www.uniclectica.com/misc/manuf.html
http://www.taylors1000.com/manufacturers/manufacturers_all.htm
http://www.theinvisibleedge.co.uk/history1.html
http://www.theinvisibleedge.co.uk/history2.html
http://www.theinvisibleedge.co.uk/history3.html
Old Sheffield Razors. Henry P. Lummus. Antiques. pp. 261–267. Dec. 1922
More Old Razors. Henry P. Lummus. Antiques. pp. 372–374. May 1927
http://www.coticule.be/the-cafeteria/topic/534.html
metal that can take an edge is all that matters as far as serviceable shaves.. the glory days of vintage razors depends on what you like.. some hate the rescale of a blade with exotic materials and shape and prefer the same material and style in a restoration.. some love it... this all drives prices..
and then there are some guys with encyclopedic knowledge, like greybeard.. or some that have done the research to link an address through newspaper articles, obits, and events like luc
really the only blades to stay away from are the vintage crap that have terrible honewear, pitting too far gone into the edge
check this out http://www.ebay.com/gds/STRAIGHT-RAZOR-BUYING-GUIDE-/10000000009185976/g.html
many of the pristine mint look blades could have been buffed to point where metal is compromised due to temper.. but some folks love that shiny shiny, you can see it on rainbow/blueish purple hued metal. you can see the crispness of lines gone, etchings lost, hone wear that appears shiny and not in line with typical non-buffed hone wear..
and then there are original papers/boxes and magazine ads that have the models in them...
this is only some of the info that goes into why a razor is desirable...
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #14
this is what I need thanks This is enough to get me going. I will look into these books they look to be what im looking for. I wonder if I can find them in the Pdf from. and with time and research ill be able to identify razors like i can with Gillette DE.
