Thread: Wild Bill Hickok's Straight Razor

Interesting auction, gentlemen: Wild Bill Hickok's personal razor - signed and notarized. Starts at mere $100, but the estimated price is $70,000 - $90,000. It's a real piece of history right there - and a nice razor at that, although I guess too rich for most of us

That would be just too cool to own!!

But yeah, at that price......too rich for me.




This brings back the thought of where/who has the razors we own been and with whom.
Ya just never know.......

If money was no object would you use it as part of your rotation or just, keep it as a collectable?

As a kid growing up in Houston, I remember Wild Bill Hickok being my favorite Western folk hero / gunslinger after having read a "biography" on Hickok and other characters from the period. Hickok must have told the tallest tales, because I chose him as the subject for my 5th or 6th grade book report.



Reading up on Wild Bill's Wiki, I find some history regarding the Dead man's hand:

Hickok was playing five-card stud when he was shot. He was holding two pairs: black aces and black eights as his "up cards". The identity of the fifth card (his "hole card") is the subject of debate.

As to the razor, I will be surprised if the razor fetches over $50,000. A note toward the bottom of the Hickok Wiki mentions a failed reserve auction for one of his pistols at $220,000. I'm not so sure a razor this ugly will bring that kind of money.

“This brings back the thought of where/who has the razors we own been and with whom.
Ya just never know.......l

Sometimes we get a clue when someone has scratched initials or other identifier on the scales. It’s interesting how some feel that is a blemish while others treat it as a link to the blade’s history.

Originally Posted by markbignosekelly

If money was no object would you use it as part of your rotation or just, keep it as a collectable?

None of the above? This looks like a serious restoration project that begins with an overpriced victim. Even if money was no object, I could not stomach throwing even $5,000 at something in that condition. Probably stems from the fact my dad was born in 1927. No amount of money in my pocket will change who I am at heart.

Originally Posted by markbignosekelly

If money was no object would you use it as part of your rotation or just, keep it as a collectable?

First of all, I'd restore it properly, and then I'd probably use it from time to time. I think there is something to feeling a piece of history in ones everyday use - much more than just seeing it in a museum display.

^^^^ I agree to this!!!

It would be used after a restoration, not as a daily, but for sure it would be at my face from time to time

Will be interesting to see what it goes for. I would probably wait until they had a Wild Bill movie or something out so it would get more attention.

Originally Posted by JP5

Will be interesting to see what it goes for. I would probably wait until they had a Wild Bill movie or something out so it would get more attention.

You could wait for a long time. The last one was back in '95 with Jeff Bridges. Wasn't a very good one too.