Thread: The Challenge of Deciding What To Sell!

Today I've been going through my straight razors trying to decide what to sell.

I know this sounds silly, but this is way harder than I thought it would be!
Do any of you have a hard time with this? How do you decide?
Any suggestions that might help me decide which blades to let go of?

Selling off half of collection to buy equipment and supplies for the workshop, already had my first round of sell offs and that went fine, of course you can imagine that the first ones to go are the ones you're willing to part with..
Now the pressure builds with the second round!

Maybe I'm just looking for encouragement.. lol

Thanks for any replies!

It is a lot easier deciding which razors (or hones, or strops, or soaps) to buy than deciding which to sell.

One question you might ask yourself is: "If I could only keep one razor, would I be happy keeping this one?" If you wouldn't, put that razor into the sell pile. Hopefully, you will end up with a pile of keepers that bring you great satisfaction and another pile you could live without. If you are lucky, the split will be something close to what you were hoping for.

I feel ya Mike. I keep wanting to sell a few, but the only ones I'm willing to part with a under 5/8, and thoghs are hard to sell as everyone want bigger. When I started collecting it was whatever I could get for cheap. This was small. Now I got them and dont really like having so many of them.

That is a tough one.
I go thru that, when Ive given razors away to new guys.

First, is how experienced they are, and decide if a round or square point would be a safe bet, for the individual.

If they are going to hone it, or have it done. Don't want to give a guy who's learning, a razor thats wonky, and more for an experienced honer. The easier it is for them, the more likely they'll stick with it.


So make a pile that you charish the most ( your favorites )
And choose what to sell from the others.

Not that I'm ready to sell anything, but I've started categorizing mine in that way

Well I have been through that a few times. I try to balance my straights, so if I want to buy I have to sell. I have sold a few that I wish I hadn’t. There are several in my pile that are of some sentimental value, because of where they came from, the rest are fair game, but so many were really hard to find so mostly when I go through them, I look at the rarity factor and how often they have actually been used, then there is also the thought of can I be money ahead by selling them. I have a few that I bought new, and I will take a bath selling those.

Thank you gentleman!
Those suggestions help a bunch.
It's so strange, usually I'm so decisive. The only blades I have under 5/8 are NOS or just about. Already sold half my big ones and so don't want to part with those left. Have some really old ones that are awesome can't sell. Don't wanna sell my ivory... And then there's the blades given to me by friends and family... my parents bless their hearts bought me a Pakistan blade... hehehe
The keeper list goes on!
The real crazy part is I could sell just one of my really big ones and have most the money I need. Hmmmm

Oddly enough, though I'm a freak for history, one of my razors with a fascinating history (the French Papillon double blade razor) is actually in the sell pile.
Probably because I don't ever see myself using it.

Thanks again for the replies, good to know others share the challenge!

Sounds like you have it under control. You have your never sell razors. The decision making process starts at purchase. When I buy a razor I know if its a keeper or a seller. I tend to spend more on keepers and put a cap on sellers. Good luck setting up your shop.

Not really a challenge to me.....Everything is always for sale if the price is right.

Can't take 'em with you!