Thread: Is it BS...

Yes folks it's time again for you favorite game show, "IS IT B.S.???"

Today we have for you a lovely J.R. Torrey razor listed on a popular online bidding site. The seller boldly states that it has "Geniune Ivory Handle". Yes, you read right.

Now, the over exposed pictures don't show much and the blade is not particularly special. Nice, but nothing jaw dropping.

So, this question is put to you contestants....

IS.... IT... B.S. ?????

Straight Razor J.R.Torrey Geniune Ivory Handle - eBay (item 320334533169 end time Jan-29-09 07:32:18 PST)

This would be a coin toss to call w/o asking the seller what he/she bases the statement on. With the quality of the pictures provided and the asking price and no or vague response from seller I would take the chance of error and say no.

I've bought a few nice razors from that seller, always as described. Also, that Torrey has collarless pins (I think?). Could be.

I bought a Green Lizard and a Wolstenholm pipe from him a year or so ago. At the time he had a steady stream or razors up. They were basically as described but the lizard had a lot of micro chipping that you needed an eye loupe to see. If a person was a collector rather then a shaver they wouldn't have been noticed.

He has had that razor up a few times over the last year. Always at that price and it obviously has never sold. Whether he knows the difference between genuine ivory and celluloid or not I can't say. Seems like a hefty price for a 5/8 Torrey ivory scales or not.

Typically ivory scales are thin thin thin. Ask the seller if they're about 1/16 of an inch thick. if so, then they're likely ivory. Better yet, just ask for a picture from the top down, so you can see the thickness of the scales.

Originally Posted by Sandcounty

I've bought a few nice razors from that seller, always as described. Also, that Torrey has collarless pins (I think?). Could be.

Same here. She is also very responsive to questions, and gives free shipping for repeat buyers. However, as Jimmy said, the price is quite steep, ivory or not, so personally, I would not even bother.

I got one from her as well, and am very satisfied with it. But, like everyone else, I believe the price is way too much for that razor...

I'd lean on being genuine ivory. And yeah it hasn't sold for a while now, but I've seen worse razors sell for more. I'd consider it over most new razors in its price range, though, but then again I like unusual looking blades and ivory probably more than most people do.
I've had good experience with the seller. Once a razor turned out to be cracked and it was accepted back without any problems.

Hmmmm. If it were ivory wouldnt it have yellowed a bit by now, those white scales seem a little on the bright side.

blade has been stropped or honed.you can see the marks

If she doesn't know the difference between honing and stropping (marks) then I doubt she knows if it's real ivory or fake.