Thread: French Malarkey

Originally Posted by ScienceGuy

Based on the original pictures from the initial auction handling the razors, the seller is not doing anything to the razors as far as restoring, and the razors have been in a single collection likely from a family in Sheffield. Most of the blades coming out of the auction seem to be the real deal as far as original condition. This guy has been buying up lots like crazy and putting them to immediate resale on ebay, and I have no idea why his realized prices have been skyrocketing (e.g. he has sold single razors for $200-300, where those same razors came from the auction house in lots of 4 or 5 for a total price of less than 200).

Sorry, but a close look at some of those "real deal original conditions" reveals obvious restoration work. Maybe the seller is not the person doing the restoration work (If you look you will see that those NOT from the Ragg collection have not been spruced up) but at some point, SOME one cleaned these up.
And I agree with the other comment, yea, this thread probably boosted sales! =P

That was a misspeak on my part, there are a lot of reworked blades from there, but the majority that I have handled and the few I have just seen online that had a proper crocus finish have shown no signs of restoration work, with a few exceptions.

Those are quite nice! Went for a PILE! My bids did not even register!

I picked up some razors from this seller. They were really nice but the condition was definitely over-stated. More disappointing were flaws that were not disclosed. Not enough to require a return but enough to be very leery of this seller's claims. I left him a 2 for feedback on accuracy on my last review.

Originally Posted by KarlG

I picked up some razors from this seller. They were really nice but the condition was definitely over-stated. More disappointing were flaws that were not disclosed. Not enough to require a return but enough to be very leery of this seller's claims. I left him a 2 for feedback on accuracy on my last review.

Like what? show us some examples?

Originally Posted by Martin103

Like what? show us some examples?

I just sent the razors off to @gssixgun for honing so I can't offer pics of the defects. When he gets his hands on them he can comment if he is so inclined.

One of them was a 1920s Napoleon described as having excellent scales. However, the bottom edge of one of them had a series of small chips. Another, an 1800s ivory scaled William Lund, was described as, "Everything about this razor is as if it was brand new." However, upon close inspection it was clear it had been honed before.

The razors are still very nice but not quite what was described or disclosed by the pictures or descriptions.

I wrote to the seller about the Lund but never got a reply - which is why I left the low rating on the Napoleon.

KarlG, since you have 2 posts in your tenure here and both are negative about a vendor somewhere,
Leads me to think you may be here for that purpose.

Contribution is nice. We don't need to mediate. You and the seller can do that. JMO

Originally Posted by sharptonn

KarlG, since you have 2 posts in your tenure here and both are negative about a vendor somewhere,
Leads me to think you may be here for that purpose.

Contribution is nice. We don't need to mediate. You and the seller can do that. JMO

That's not much of a welcome since I was merely adding my experience to a thread started by someone else. You can PM @gssixgun for verification on the razors if you like since you do not trust my word. The PO says he'll have them tomorrow.

I don't recall asking you or anyone else to mediate.

Originally Posted by KarlG

That's not much of a welcome since I was merely adding my experience to a thread started by someone else. You can PM @gssixgun for verification on the razors if you like since you do not trust my word. The PO says he'll have them tomorrow.

I don't recall asking you or anyone else to mediate.

I see. Cannot recall issuing a welcome? Quite rude of me.

You are hereby thrown to the wolves.
Best of luck!

As I said at the start, no doubt these are fine razors but a close examination shows signs of use on some. HOWEVER.... there is no way to know if it was the eBay seller or someone earlier (perhaps a hundred years earlier!) that did anything to them.