I've only been a member just over a month. I've been using str8's for 3 years, but mostly new ones. I don't post a lot as I'm still studying the wiki. At 60 I've done a lot of steel work. Fabricating, repair, sharpening...It's kind of one of my quirks. I've tried to look at the pictures and titles, but not the posts to see if I have the correct approach. I've not refurbished anything yet, but I plan on it. This gives me a chance to tell you what I see from pictures, and perhaps how close or far I am off my assumptions Have at it, I'm thick skinned and used to criticism.
Razor 1.......A vintage dubl duck with clear acrylic scales grabs me right off the bat. It has patina around the pins, but I'm not so sure about the clear scales. Bad picture quality, but I can see definite pits, might be repairable, maybe not. Pic 3 clearly shows the toe is blue and brown from over heating. We're not bidding on this POS.
Razor 2.....Cool etching but obvious rust pitting. Scroll down and the tang is rusted but might have possibilities. Keep scrolling and the rust on the tang becomes more obvious, but the toe is clearly worn from stones that might have needed lapping. Keep scrolling and the bevel is out of kilter as well. No bids on this one either.
Razor 3......At first glance, this one could have possibilities, but before I bid, I need more pix. A second glance tells me that there is a lot of wear on the blade by the heel, and once again the stones might have needed lapping. Then as you scroll further the bevel is not right. For the right price maybe, but still not ready to bid.
Razor 4.....At first glance doesn't reveal enough and need more pix. Crappy pictures and I'm for sure not going to bid. Scroll down and that blue fading to brown spot on the spine tells it all. This one is cooked too.!! Scroll to the last picture and it's clear this one stayed on a buffer too long. No bids here either.
That's my take....right or wrong. I would sooner bid here as opposed to ebay, provided there are enough pix and viable information........which when I say viable is stuff I can rationalize or confirm. Still might not be right, but trial and error can be an expensive way to learn. Some days the bear gets you, other days you get the bear.
It's still fun no matter what your age is.