Thread: Red Imp at Filarmonica price

Let me say first that I love my Red Imp razors to death. They are great blades, easy to sharpen, easy to use, and I already have five of them (including a cool 6/8 Ludo Red Imp with a hammered tang - try to find one like that at your local flea market!)

But what the heck is going on with this one -- 120580942592? A Case #133 for $266?!? Ok it's in NOS condition, but it won't be once you sharpen and use it. So how do you get to a price like this for my favorite $50 razor?

Please don't tell me the little devils are actually becoming popular! Another great brand ruined by demand, in my opinion anyway.

I was watching the same auction and was as surprised as you are. I have one I got off the bay in very good condition and I payed less than $40 including shipping. Go figure.

I should add that I've also bought a razor recently from the seller (G&F "Adoration Axe"), and it is a beauty. This seller apparently does not usually deal in razors but has a limited supply of German NOS razors that he is selling for a friend.

For the razor I bought, he described it as having "one warped scale," but the razor I received was basically in perfect condition with only the very slightest asymmetry, barely noticeable, on one of the scales.

Bottom line is that I have no doubt that the Red Imp this guy is selling is in super fine, NOS condition. I just can't believe that Red Imps in any condition, even fresh from a time machine, are going for over $250.

Two different types of collectors...

We (the Shavers) only make up a small part of the Razor collectors out there...
There are people who collect just for the scales, and also people who collect the NOS stuff and it goes into display.... Looks like two of them decided on the same razor

Get two the the scale guys after one old rusted POS with rare scales and watch the price skyrocket...

Here is another that is over 100.. Vintage Red Imp #133 Straight Razor by Case - Unused - eBay (item 120581344101 end time Jun-14-10 17:18:37 PDT)

Shoot I saw one in the local antique store for 20 the other day.. may have to go back and see if they still have it.

Edit: After looking it is the same seller

the red imps have been popular for awhile

Agreed that the Red Imps have been popular for a while. But for me anyway, part of their popularity was the fact that they were always, always available for around $40-60, and at that price you just could not find a better blade. So maybe one would go for $80 or $25 once in a while -- for the most part, they were just damn good knives for not much dosh.

And I use the past tense, because with the last one going for $266 and now one going for over $100, it looks like this is all over now.

So all the Imps I have are now theoretically more valuable than I thought, but I can't buy any more? No thanks. I'd rather go back to the way things were before!

While I agree that those prices are very high for those razors, I'm actually surprised that the Red Imp prices have stayed so low for so long. I remember back when I was trying to get my first one about two years ago, and the prices are about the same on average ($40-$60ish). Yes, they are common razors, but they are killer shavers at a great size with rather unique scales/blackened tang/red letting AND from a collectible manufacturer. IMO, they are the Dubl Ducks of American razors (except that there are only two models).

Ok, now this is getting a little out of control. The other Red Imp being sold by German Money just ended at $295!! THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR ONE RED IMP RAZOR!?!?

It is in perfect condition, with plastic and paper wrappings intact (but no box). Never honed, never used, mint, NOS, whatever you want to call it. But $300? Ok, it's "worth whatever the market will pay" blah blah blah and "they aren't making any more of them" blah blah blah.

But seriously, that price is insane. If you disagree, let me ask you this -- you can't ever use the razor at that price, because any worth it has comes from it being in mint condition. So what the hell do you do with that razor after paying three bills for it?! Look at it? Take pictures of it? Imagine how great it would be if you could actually use it? Please.

It's a shame too, because a great razor like that should be USED but at that price I doubt it ever will. And if the purchaser is reading this, I apologize profusely and in advance if you are actually going to hone and use this great razor. Please write and let me know I'm wrong!

Prices on most every straight have gone nuts in the last 4 months. Maybe not as nutty as that listing but still...... I have been shocked to see the values go up so quick .