Not sure of pricing...

[Joeylongs]

I'm looking to buy a new straight. Im somewhat new to straights and found this one. Curious to know what is a fair price to pay for a straight like this. To my knowledge it's a P.Hospital Le Grelot. I've read a lot of good things about them but on an item that is used, I'm just not sure of what to do. The asking price is $175.00. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Doc226]

I believe appraisals are frowned upon. What is it worth? what someone pays for it.

Hard to tell from the pics but I think that one has some extra hone wear mid spine and a slight frown.

$175 seems too much.

 

[Sando]

That razor is not worth $175 to me.
You can do much better for that price.
You can also get much more for alot less.

 

[Kentos]

I believe appraisals are frowned upon. What is it worth? what someone pays for it.

Hard to tell from the pics but I think that one has some extra hone wear mid spine and a slight frown.

$175 seems too much.

We take these types of questions on a case by case basis, but for the most part we would want to prevent new straight shavers from paying too much for razors.

For a 175.00 there a MANY options out there for a nicer razor.

 

[Member357]

Have you used a straight before?

if not, then I would strongly recommend getting a shave ready straight from the BST (buy sell trade) here on B&B, or from one of the hobbyist vendors. They will set you up with a razor that's ready to go, and if you decide straight shaving isn't for you you're not $175 out of pocket.

 

[oakeshott]

Unless that were a mint Filly 14 or NOS Dorko, I'd never recommend a newcomer ever spend 175 bucks on a straight (unless your personal circumstances meant that 175 bucks is like the spare change that falls out of your pockets and into the hamper). Without giving you an appraisal, 175 dollars buys a LOT of razor if you know where to look and what to look for.

I risk repeating myself, correction, no risk, I AM repeating myself. The best starter deal is Whipped Dog's sight unseen razor and poor man's strop kit. It's the cheapest way to get everything you need to get started except a backup razor. For the backup, you can get one of Buca's shave ready GD's or look for something off the BST.

You're going to have plenty of time to spend too much money on too many straight razors. First determine if it's something you like.

Lecture over.

 

[totorlekiller]

The Le Grelot are very good razors, arguably France's best. I have 2 in my rotation and I am working on a 3rd one.
I have also plenty in my project box that I need to work on. The only one that would reach that price are the new ones that were sold by Thiers Issard after they acquired the left-over blanks LeGrelot left when they shut down.
And this one does not look like it is part of that lot. As pointed out above, the blade has a frown, serious honing wear (especially in the middle, which explains the frown) and some oxidation. The scales could be toirtoise, but they could also be plastic.
If a LeGrelot is what you want, you can get one with a pristine blade and get some custom scale made by one of the restoration artist on this forum, and get is professionally honed all for less than 175.
Or, you could just walk-in to a Art of Shaving a get a brand new Thiers Issard Taos 5/8 for that exact price too.

You could also do some digging in the BST and get a fine blade, for much less.

 

[professorchaos]

Grelots are simply superb razors. However, you can do a lot better than for paying $175 for that one.

A brief selection of what's available to you for as much or a little less.

Option #1 - Vintage
Option #2 - Carbon
Option #3 - INOX

 

[Slash McCoy]

What they said.

If you asked me what I personally would give for it, I would have to tell you less than half that amount. I don't have any TIs in my collection and I wouldn't mind having one, but there are better values to be had. Whipped Dog or Buca either one would hook you up with a good beginner's razor for cheap. Either one could be resold at little or no loss.

 

[Joeylongs]

Thank you all for the responses! Let me try to answer some questions and maybe provide a clearer question than the one I started with. I've been shaving with a straight for about a year now. Self taught with help from YouTube. I currently use a dovo by solingen Col. Ichabod Conk, hope I said that right. It measures 7/8" I like this razor as a first but I'm looking to upgrade. I'm looking for a razor that I can use and perhaps one day pass to my young boys. I started doing research on new straights and read in many places that a P.Hospital Le Grelot was one on the finest and if taken care of properly can last a life time. I assume this to be true with most things, take care of them and they will last. So I started my search and found the one I posted above. So, without writing a novel, I'm looking for a nice cutter, with nice scales (preferably not plastic) that I can pass down. I saw some new TI's that were in the $270 range. I do not have money to throw away, but I do have money to spend on a quality product. I don't have a preference as to new or used, just quality. Thank you all again, amazing responses!

 

[totorlekiller]

I see.
Then what I recommend is for you to get a Le Grelot with a good blade (but most you will find have plastic scales) and get it rescaled by Doc226.
Now that would create an heirloom piece