Thread: Wild Bill Hickok's Straight Razor

Originally Posted by dimab

I beg to differ, restoration does not destroy the provenance: most of the artifacts you can see in the museums today were tastefully and professionally restored prior to placing them under glass. Including paintings, sculptures, historical buildings etc. I don't think it diminished their value as museum items.
As to whether an historical item meant to be used or not - I can see both points of view. On one hand, if continuous use would eventually destroy the item itself - it'd be a pity. But on the other hand, using an item - be it a picture, a razor or a building - brings you an enormously more powerful feeling of connection to history than merely observing it. Call it "associative magic" or whatever Would you prefer the Capitol Building to be closed and preserved or being used as a home of the United States Congress?

There is a difference in taking an item that is ancient and mostly obliterated and has great historical significance and restoring it so it can be enjoyed by all like the Dead Sea Scrolls for instance.

An item that is of value because it was used by someone of note is a different case.

Check out what Paul Newman's Rolex went for, it will take your breath away. if someone had it cleaned up and replaced the xtl and face and new bracelet it wouldn't have been worth two cents.

I'm off topic here

However I think that 'IF' this razor is the real deal then is should be displayed. I can't say how much cleaning was done on this but I do like the display.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

There is a difference in taking an item that is ancient and mostly obliterated and has great historical significance and restoring it so it can be enjoyed by all like the Dead Sea Scrolls for instance.

An item that is of value because it was used by someone of note is a different case.

Check out what Paul Newman's Rolex went for, it will take your breath away. if someone had it cleaned up and replaced the xtl and face and new bracelet it wouldn't have been worth two cents.

Good point here, but replacing original parts in your Rolex example (the price was definitely breathtaking) made the item into a different one, while restoring a razor in our case is just cleaning it, taking a little care of the scales and honing - more like with the Wallace sword above.
Nevertheless I can see you point if not identify with it: for me personally the certificate of authenticity would be good enough to feel the historic connection - I wouldn't need the sweat of Newman to still be present on the bracelet - especially if I would be intended to continue using it as a watch So I would clean it up (no replacements), polish the scratches on the glass, and put it on my hand. But that's me (I wouldn't buy it as an investment either, so I wouldn't worry how it would affect its value in others' eyes). We all have our different levels of sentimentality. One would like to preserve everything and for another "it's just a hat". I just fall somewhere between

How do we know it was Wild Bill's? Just because some guy wrote a notarized letter? No other proof available?
I am not saying it wasn't but you can't really prove 100% it was so to drop any serious money on this is just insane.

Certainly before any legitimate auction house will take it they have to be convinced by the evidence. Even so you hear about them being hoodwinked every now and then. If you buy from one of them you get a refund if it turns out to be bogus.

Of course if you buy something on the QT and you are not an expert yourself you be taking a hefty chance.

An item such as a razor was owned by most every man back then including men way richer and poorer than Wild Bill.
To think a gun proclaimed to be from him is sketchy, I think a lot of provenance was lost.
I have some much nicer penned ivory scaled razors. One was Henry the 8th's and the other was used by Elvis!

Originally Posted by sharptonn

An item such as a razor was owned by most every man back then including men way richer and poorer than Wild Bill.
To think a gun proclaimed to be from him is sketchy, I think a lot of provenance was lost.
I have some much nicer penned ivory scaled razors. One was Henry the 8th's and the other was used by Elvis!

I thought that you were going to return Henry's and Elvis's razors to me after you gave them a test shave.

Oh well, I have others----------------

Originally Posted by cudarunner

I thought that you were going to return Henry's and Elvis's razors to me after you gave them a test shave.

Oh well, I have others----------------

Well, My attorney will be in touch with your's!

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Well, My attorney will be in touch with your's!

No worries--I called OJ and he gave me some good references for lawyers.

Good God! I'm starting to sound like.............................................. ..

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Certainly before any legitimate auction house will take it they have to be convinced by the evidence. Even so you hear about them being hoodwinked every now and then. If you buy from one of them you get a refund if it turns out to be bogus.

Of course if you buy something on the QT and you are not an expert yourself you be taking a hefty chance.

I guess that one who pays 70-90 grands for a razor either has enough brains to know how to validate the authenticity, or enough money not to care that much. Otherwise he just has little more money than brains