Really old, really expensive pair of razors

Here's a new listing for a pair of REALLY old razors. It's too bad that the seller doesn't show more of the blades themselves, but I guess that's his choice. Does anyone actually use a blade this old for daily shaving? I kind of like the idea of shaving with something that has been in use for nearly 200 years, but looking at these razors, I'm not sure they would be good for anything other than one or two shaves a year. Also, no offense to the seller, but who has $1200 to spend on museum-grade shaving gear right now? Not me anyway. Enjoy.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I dont want to say anything negative about this guy.....So i wont....

As far as I recall, Dylan had a few very old stub tailed blades he was using. There's a man who appreciates past quality!

I do like the oldies, but I don't like them $600 each. I'm sure somewhere out there, there is a collector that will be very happy to see that auction, but I have no idea what that collector is thinking.

The scales are the selling point with that pair. If he started at $0.99 he would probably get near to half his asking price. Pressed horn scales bring a premium from collectors of those lovelies.

Funny. Few month ago i bought few razors from the local charity auction of my home island. One of those had almost identical scales. Price was *little* different, and i think both seller and buyer were thinking they were making a good deal.

wow I guess if you want to play (with that seller) you have to pay

So the consensus is that the scales are what's special about this lot? I didn't know that. Personally, I tend to overlook the scales, especially when they are damaged, as these clearly are. The parts that aren't damaged, however, are nice to look at, but again, I don't know anything about how you'd get from that to the seller's asking price.

On a larger scale, it's always surprising to me that there are people out there who buy and sell and collect these razors with absolutely no intention of ever using them, although I suppose that would apply to just about every category of "collectible" out there. Are there gun collectors who don't ever intend to shoot the guns they buy? Are there automobile collectors who don't ever intend to drive the cars they buy? Obviously yes, but that fact just doesn't seem to fit into my brain -- I keep coming back to it and feel like I must be missing something.:shrug:

I also like to use it if I'm going to keep it. If you are a 'true' collector though, you wind up with way more than you will use. I've seen scale collectors pay big $ for razors in which the blades were trashed. Especially figural scale collectors.

I remember the 800$ (or was it 1200$? can't remember) razor that had some sort of seamen figure engraving, or something nautical. The blad was crap but the cell scales were what made it go for that price.

Like my Dad used to tell me, " one man's meat is another man's poison". I'm sure there is some rational for the buyer. As for the seller, he's simply doing what he thinks he can. One things a certainty, I would never even consider biding on that. But hey to each his own. Dare I be judgmental!:eek:

" It is easier to be wise for others than for ourselves" - F. Rochefoucauld

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JeffE

Does anyone actually use a blade this old for daily shaving?

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I have four antique stubtails that I use regularly. All four are pre-1830. One could be pre-1800, depending on how accurate the age guide in the wiki is. I originally thought it was that old, but after looking at razors that are known to be of that vintage, I think mine is probably more likely very early 1800's. At any rate, those old blades can definitely still be used to shave with.

Just to be clear, I'm not sitting in judgment of the razors or the pricing either. I really, truly don't know anything about these really old razors or what makes them worth more or less than others. The fact that it comes down to the scales is a bit of surprise to me, as I always consider the scales to be a distant sideshow compared to the blade itself, but hey, that's why they have vanilla and chocolate, right? And having spent some ridiculous amounts of money for a particular piece of metal or a specific block of stone, I'm not in any position to criticize someone else's taste or judgment in shaving gear!!

There are actually not many razors that old that are really shavers, although a lot would shave ok. I sold one of my pressed horn razors on ebay and it was actually great both as a collectible and as a shaver. I thought it went for a fair price and several collectors bid on it, but it was still a small fraction of $600. I suspect the seller would end up keeping the pair for themselves, even if one of them weren't broken.

OTOH, looks like they've taken note from previous threads here and dramatically improved on those hideous pictures they used to put up.

I'm currently looking for a pre 1800 straight to shave with but those are a little out of my price comfort I'm afraid.

wow thats a lotta dosh