Highly sought after razors?

[groc426]

I've been eyeballing the world of straight razors for a while now. I've read the great sticky's here and many other sites material. I've seen a lot of them around while antique shopping for DE razors. I'm familiar with good brands vs. bad brands, but I have a difficult time valuing them. I see them in the stores go anywhere from $20 - $120. I fear overpaying for one or missing out on a good one. I know I could buy a new or restored razor, but part of the hunt is the fun.

So, what are the highly sought after brands? I guess, this would be the ones that typically carry a higher price tag (such as Fialarmonicas).

What is the average price I should pay for a common razor, in good condition? I know the condition of the razor would really determine the price, but for one that isn't perfect, but still usable.

I hope this makes sense, and I hope to join you soon

Thanks!

 

[mdunn]

the difference between DE and straight is that there are many MANY different makers, and many different styles, and many different conditions that are useable. Its kinda a mix between those three ideas that gives a price

 

[jadam318]

You've posed a question that is a little difficult to answer, but here are my thoughts. You'll probably get some good advice from some more experienced guys soon, too. I'm assuming you want one to shave with and not restore, right?

If you are looking specifically for a vintage blade, I would talk to some of the guys that do restorations on here (I would list their names, but I would inevitably leave out some good ones. They will likely chime in on this thread soon.). Personally, my first straight I got from ebay for about $40. It has served me fairly well, but I soon felt the need to hone it. I don't think the guy I got it from did that good of a job. The guys here who know their stuff have their reputations on the line and do, so it seems to me, a better job. They can and will do their best to look out for you. One of them would probably have a good blade for you.

If you are looking to just get into straight shaving and do not necessarily need a vintage blade, you can find new Dovo blades, shave ready, from places like vintagebladesllc.com or straightrazordesigns.com for around $80. This might not be a bad approach, either. Do keep in mind that, if you are looking for one to shave with, you NEED one that is 'shave ready', especially for your first straight. You will have to learn to hone or send one to a hone miester otherwise.

Ok, now hang on while the experience makes their way over here.

 

[gumbo]

Don't focus too much on "brands" while antique shopping, focus on the quality and condition. Learn the in's and out's of the straight razor (see the stickies) and how to rate the quality.
However, all things being "good" with regard to quality, there are some brands that antique stores immediately mark up, and to be honest, make them horrible deals for the most part. I think if you start to learn the "secretly good" brands, so to speak, you will be in better shape. Like razors by Dorp,a founding member of Dovo, may not be marked up the way a Dovo would be, because most antique dealers don't know the lineage of the brand. There at plenty of small tidbits of knowledge with regard to a razor brand's history that may allow you to outsmart an antique shop owner.
The only way to do that is to read tons and tons of threads on this site and at SRP. Also, you have a much higher likelihood of getting ripped off if you are blindly buying at an antique shop than if you are buying from the BST here, where ripoffs are virtually non-existent.

 

[groc426]

Thanks for the input. I want a vintage razor because of the history involved. My plan was to find one and then send it to someone to be honed. The problem is the prices seem so inconsistent. I figured something had to make them worth more or less, besides quality. I was hoping to get into straights on a slightly cheaper note until I find out if it is something I want to continue.
I'll continue to read as much as possible and keep looking on the B/S/T forums, but I feel a nice, cheap shave-ready one comes up less than often and when it does it doesn't last long.

Thanks all!

 

[red96ta]

Sounds like you know what you're looking for.

My suggestion is, yes, there are brands that folks look for more than others, but finding a beater in really bad shape that has a good name is of less value than a no-name in great shape. I had this opportunity during my last venture into the antique shops. A gent had a box of old razors all marked at $39ea. I found a Wade & Butcher wedge that I know folks always rave about, but it was in such poor shape that there was just no way to get it repaired and in working condition. In the same box, I found a Joseph Allen that was in great shape and only needed a polish and hone. It's now my best shaver and easily outshines the Dovo that it sets next to.

 

[jadam318]

Ok, here is a little more info directed toward actually answering your questions. Prices are, obviously, market driven. In high demand right now are, as it seems to me, heavy grind, Sheffield blades (such as Wade & Butcher, Frederick Reynolds, and several others). Defining a good price for the general lot of all of any type of razor is impossible. Know that some sellers, especially in antique stores and on the 'bay, will drive up their prices just because it has a popular name attached to it, regardless of the razor's condition. It is for this reason that we suggest finding a user on here to avoid this kind of ridiculous mistreatment. And you don't have to wait around for one to pop up on the BST. Look in the straight razor section here and find a couple of guys who do restorations. Look for users Ambrose and Leighton, among others. I have done business with each of them at some point, and they are good guys. There are surely others, but I can't really speak from experience with them. If you see that you like some of what they've done, shoot them a PM and ask if they have anything that they might like to sell you. I'm sure one of them will.

Like was suggested before, the sweet spot in finding deals on razors is either being able to discern a quality blade that doesn't have a popular name attached to it or getting lucky.

You can sometimes find entire lots (or just single razors) of these old razors for sale on ebay. Usually, several of them will be beyond repair, but you can come up with one or two decent ones. Pretty much anything (unrestored) worth buying on ebay will require more work than just honing, though. You can have someone restore a whole razor for you (again, check in with some guys here who do that). You'll want to stay away from blades with big chips in them or those that have bad pitting or pitting on/near the shaving edge. Scales can always be replaced, and most rust (provided it isn't too deep) can be removed.

I hope some of that helps you. Again, I'm sure some of the blade restorers will be chiming in before the day's close.

 

[Phoenix_one]

What you are looking is a vintage blade which is a good shaver. Check out Griffon, properly honed, there maybe not much of a looker, but they give a hell of a shave.

 

[Hughies_online]

If your going to get a collectible razor that is very costly, my advice is to collect it and not use it. You run too much of a risk damaging it, dropping it, etc when using it as a daily shaver. Plus, you will need to maintain it everyday because if you don't you may get spotting, etc which will devalue your acquisition.

 

[groc426]

Well it sounds like I will continue my search in the antique stores for a decent straight at a decent price. I find it so difficult because I know many stores really inflate their prices, but I have no point to talk them down to. I don't know what they are really worth. For instance, there is a Boker King Cutter in great condition (not mint) with beautiful gold lettering on the blade for $75. I know Boker's are great blades but I don't know if they are $75 great no matter the type or condition.
I have also been watching ebay auctions to discover "market" value of the straight razors, but I can't find a trend amongst them at all. Really, it seems the higher priced razors are simply ones with better pictures. I've seen big lots of decent looking razors go for next to nothing.
I will continue to look in the B/S/T forums as well as e-mail some of the known members here who restore razors to see what they have available.
I don't plan to collect straight razors (yet...), but I would hate to miss an excellent or rare razor at a decent price. As I said, the hunt is part of the fun. If nothing else I would just pass down the razors to memebers here. This is my slow transition into wanting to make straights my main shavers.
With DE it's easy...you just have to know gillette
I really appreciate all your advice and I'm sure it wont be my first time asking. I'll remember the names and advice on razors given as I continue my search. Thank you all again!

 

[Golden Eagle Warrior]

There is a list of "good" razor brands posted in the SRP wiki.

 

[jadam318]

For instance, there is a Boker King Cutter in great condition (not mint) with beautiful gold lettering on the blade for $75. I know Boker's are great blades but I don't know if they are $75 great no matter the type or condition.

My first straight was a Boker King Cutter with the gold lettering on the blade. It has just one spot near the tip of the blade, and the gold is a little faded in one, small spot. I bought it shave ready for about $45. I think $75 is a little much.

 

[Lo'Tek]

If the price is "high" I would try to feel out the seller to see what knowledge they have. They may just think straights are all rare and thus should be priced accordingly. They could put a high tag on a piece of junk the same way some unwittingly put a low tag on a steal. They could know what they have and be preying on someone inexperienced. They could know everything or nothing and just own a shop.

Keep looking around here, reading, and arming yourself with knowledge. I have pointed out flaws in razors and talked down prices.

Also, get an idea of what other buyers here are willing to pay for a given razor's quality. If the scales are warped and there is surface rust, keep in mind that some have bought such razors for $5 USD on eBay, while others have bought batches of ten or more old razors for $20 to $70, depending on who's selling.

 

[just1nsturm]

Anything made of damascus steel

My personal favorites are boker razors.

 

[gugi]

Well it sounds like I will continue my search in the antique stores for a decent straight at a decent price. I find it so difficult because I know many stores really inflate their prices, but I have no point to talk them down to. I don't know what they are really worth.

So, you are worried not to 'overpay', but you have no reference point of what the correct number should be. I have to say, there really is no way around this - no shortcut to experience. I know how I decide what a razor is worth to me, but that's only applicable to me.

For instance, there is a Boker King Cutter in great condition (not mint) with beautiful gold lettering on the blade for $75. I know Boker's are great blades but I don't know if they are $75 great no matter the type or condition.

Well the condition is important for aesthetics and in some cases for functionality. It depends on how you define 'great'.

I have also been watching ebay auctions to discover "market" value of the straight razors, but I can't find a trend amongst them at all.
Really, it seems the higher priced razors are simply ones with better pictures.

Yes, plus the reputation of the seller, which is correlated with the picture quality, as well as the hype about 'brands' generated on these forums - like the result of if we tell you a bunch of brands like you're asking.

but I would hate to miss an excellent or rare razor at a decent price.

You most certainly will, so just accept it as a fact and don't worry too much about it - there is always another razor. As I said the problem is that you have no experience to tell what is excellent razor - there are often razors as good as they come at really cheap price and they stay unwanted for days and weeks.
The only way to get an experience is to take the risk and potentially overpay for many razors and underpay for others. For example, right now I can post a razor in the B/S/T which is as good as the infamous Dubl Duck Wonderedge, and if I put the price at the cheapest Dovo it will probably not sell at all, just because nobody wants to buy 'unknown' 'used' razor for the same price when they can have a brand spanking new Dovo. So I get to keep the razor and enjoy it myself.
The way I found some really good razors was to just try out a lot (plus paying attention not to people who talk a lot, but to those who actually know what they're talking about).

My first straight was a Boker King Cutter with the gold lettering on the blade. It has just one spot near the tip of the blade, and the gold is a little faded in one, small spot. I bought it shave ready for about $45. I think $75 is a little much.

I disagree - it can be a steal, or it can be a $75 lesson. No way to tell from his description.

 

[groc426]

I really hope it doesn't appear I am attempting to take a shortcut, this is how I gain experience, by asking questions. dAs I've stated I have looked at prices on the B/S/T forums, antique stores, and even Ebay for a while but I haven't been able to find a common trend to their prices. I'm just confused. I guess it is the hype brands I am looking for. I continue to read, watch, and learn as much as I can. Anyways I've recieved some great tips and help from here and will continue my search. I've decided my best bet is just to find one in good condition and pay an average price of $20-40 for one. If I miss out on a super-great shaver...oh well

 

[gugi]

Hype brands are easy - flarmonica, wade&butcher, dubl duck, dovo, puma, boker - all of them are sought after and if you see one in good condition you'll pay quite a bit.

I just bought a razor in really nice condition from a member - it's better than any current dovo, or even some very highly regarded vintage brands and I paid a whooping $60 for it.
Now that was a great deal - you simply can't get a razor that shaves as smooth for this price.

The way I knew to get it was that I already have one and that one I got because I heard about them from some of the old-timers.

 

[jadam318]

I disagree - it can be a steal, or it can be a $75 lesson. No way to tell from his description.

I couldn't see paying that much for that razor unless it was flawless (which he said it wasn't). I was using what I paid for mine as a reference since I bought it less than a year ago in nearly flawless, shave ready condition.

 

[Lo'Tek]

I really hope it doesn't appear I am attempting to take a shortcut, this is how I gain experience, by asking questions. dAs I've stated I have looked at prices on the B/S/T forums, antique stores, and even Ebay for a while but I haven't been able to find a common trend to their prices. I'm just confused. I guess it is the hype brands I am looking for. I continue to read, watch, and learn as much as I can. Anyways I've recieved some great tips and help from here and will continue my search. I've decided my best bet is just to find one in good condition and pay an average price of $20-40 for one. If I miss out on a super-great shaver...oh well

You won't "find a common trend to their prices" because it's completely up to the seller to decide what he wants for a blade. To illustrate - I use Pro-Team vacuumes and the one I get, the Super Coach goes for little over $400. I once saw a guy selling them for $800 online. That may be a bad example because he was clearly ripping people off, but it illustrates the point. So you won't find a common trend, but you may find a ball park figure. The vacuum for $370 to $450 could be acceptable.

 

[gugi]

I couldn't see paying that much for that razor unless it was flawless (which he said it wasn't). I was using what I paid for mine as a reference since I bought it less than a year ago in nearly flawless, shave ready condition.

That's alright, that's how I can get awesome razors for much less than what they should be selling, I don't mind at all
I'm glad that not everybody has the same notion of a 'deal' as I do. I actually wish all of you guys would shoot for the mint razors under $5. They're out there, I assure you, I've actually gotten one or two.