Thread: I'm skeptical

Ok I just feel like I dont trust this seller. In his description he said that the tang stamp is almost completely worn off, it looks like a light / mis-stamp by W&B

Is it possible it looks like that because he or someone else sanded it off ? He has over 400 pos feedbacks and I could be reading into it to deep.

Wade & Butcher Sheffield 6/8 Cut Throat Straight Razor - eBay (item 110361570784 end time Mar-15-09 18:43:36 PDT)

He is one of us and it does say wade and butcher

I am not sure I understand your issue

You can ask him, but I don't think he's knowledgeble enough to tell a misstamp or a regrind
He's very new to straight razors as well.

I dont actually have an issue, It's just that the description said the stamp is almost completely "worn off, it looks like a light / mis-stamp" by W&B

So Im wondering if it is really a light mis-stamp and worn ? Or did it get "Worn" from sanding , because it does look pretty shiney for a 150 or more year old razor.

Someone like me with no experience with buying old razors , might buy this knowing it's old and worn, but If I thought the stamp got light from sanding It might not be as desireable to me.

Well after looking at some of his other items, he does say that one of his razors had to much pitting for him to sand out, so that actually answers my question.

What wore off is "Manufactured by," which is normally above "Wade & Butcher" on the tang. I think what you are being skeptical of is the guy's diligent full disclosure. The Wade & Butcher line is distinct so the fact that the guy knew that it should say Manufactured by above it indicates that he knows what he is talking about. When any razor seller seems to know what he is talking about, that is a big plus. When the seller shows multiple photos that fully disclose the condition of the razor, that is a huge plus. When you add both together, you should be happy and confident in your bid!

I think you are reading into it way too deep!

Mike, this is a picture of an ebay razor I got. W&B 5/8 wedge, no hone wear, in fact, I was the first to use it and it is at least 90 years and at most 110 years old. As you can see, it is possible to get an old razor in great condition without sanding:

If you want razor in original condition you want much better pictures than these, something with a white background reflected into the blade, like Max's photographs for example.
And you probably want to purchase it from one of the guys with big collections and lots of years into it. I guess on ebay that would be phdew32 and rebel_razor.
Outside ebay perhaps Bill Ellis or our own oldblades may have something for you.
Guys like altima55@ebay provide mostly restored razors.

I think most sellers who seem to care would be fairly honest with you and should at least tell you what they have done to a razor. Whether they can tell what was done to a razor before they got it is a lot harder and I guess in some cases may be even impossible.

JMS , I see your point. I read on another of his razors that he said he could not sand out all the pitting, So my first thought was that he cleaned all his razors up for them to look that good, and I wondered if the name wore off from the cleaning process or if it wore from usage ? I guess I can just ask him . It makes a difference to me as a buyer if something is worn from being old and used as opposed to being worn from a sander or grinder.