Why so much?

Ok I wasnt going to post this just in case it was going to sell for a decent price, but since it has exceeded that I think at this point, I think no harm done.

Here is a wonderedge for sale on ebay,
VINTAGE STRAIGHT RAZOR WONDEREDGE DUBL DUCK VERY NICE - eBay (item 110622849932 end time Dec-19-10 18:29:22 PST)

May I ask why is this one going for so much? I have seen others in the area of 200, and saw a lifetime a couple weeks ago, go for much less than this one. So what gives? Is this one different, or just a hot item.

Brian

Honestly, I think someone really, really wanted this one.

What makes that razor nice? The swirls, the scales are still new and the color isn't sapped out or discolored (yellow), minimal blemishes and the bolsters are still in great condition. Not to mention the nice DD Box but I'm less concerned with the box.

However, with the pitting on the tang I am wondering the same thing. :thinking:

Like I said, someone must have really wanted this one. Maybe it was the final piece to complete their DD collection. But, it only takes one guy with a high budget and they will get what they want.

Travis is right. If you check the bid history, only two guys have bid over $250. And one of them bid early on.

If you thought that one was bad, checkout this one.

DD Goldedge, original box, original wrapper... excellent condition. Why some people pay this much I don't know.

The sad part is, if you hone it up and use for any length of time and try to sell it, I doubt you'll get your money back.

DUBL DUCK GOLDEDGE - 5/8 - STRAIGHT RAZOR - NOS MINT! - eBay (item 230562662322 end time Dec-19-10 13:03:20 PST)

I have several WonderEdges but they are all spike points and I believe they are more common. I wonder if the bidding war might have been influenced by the round point?

As of right now, there is still 4 hours left in the bidding on that Goldedge and it is already up over $700!!!!!! I know the whole idea that a razor is truly worth what one will pay for it, but close to $1,000 (I'm assuming it will go up) for a DD Goldedge is unfathomable.

Frank, you'll have to tell us how she shaves when you get her... LOL

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LegalBeagle

Frank, you'll have to tell us how she shaves when you get her... LOL

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:rofl2: I'm not that sneaky!

I've heard that the round point is much rarer...don't know from my own experience, though.

It's just pretty insane no matter what the reason. Think of some of the wonderful custom razors you can buy for that much. Just crazy stuff!

this might be a dumb comment. But cant you just grind a spike into a round point. sooo.... ?

im confused. cheaper to send it out and get it rounded than pay the xtra oh 500 bucks ?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by a_macdiarmid

this might be a dumb comment. But cant you just grind a spike into a round point. sooo.... ?

im confused. cheaper to send it out and get it rounded than pay the xtra oh 500 bucks ?

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If you ground that Wonderedge spike into a round point or vice versa you would take a razor worth hundreds of dollars and make it worth fifty, if that. :shrug:

what is the difference between the shop grinding it and you grinding it? or rather if i put the two side by side, is it possible to tell the difference? Not that im advocating cheating of any description. just curious

As Jimmy said even a pro doing it the blade would be shortened and then in all honesty you would have to disclose what you had done which as he said would make it worth very little.
Most of these Goldedge razors have been overpriced for some time but lately it has become ridiculous!!! I mean really I can buy a Mastro Livi for the same price!!!

I see. thank you for the clarification.

I have a few more questions about ethics if you dont mind. does re-gold plating it, or replacing the scales breach any sort of moral code (assuming you dont call it NOS)?

I agree its crazy BTW.

p.s. sorry if this is changing the subject of this thread btw

No it would be ethical to have it refinished and the scales replaced as long as you let potential buyers know it. It may be hard to find anyone to replace the gold wash. Now where you are it may be easy but in the USA it's hard to find anyone to do this work.
Also in some cases new custom scales can increase the razors value.

I see thank you kindly.

edit: sorry i got confused and am mostly refering to the other duck in the other thread ("I was wondering")

Im not sure I understand the whole picture then. Clearly the point is not how well it shaves, and also it seems like its not how pretty it is either (considering re-plating and rescaling would surely lower the price), so what is the driving ethos here... is it simply that it is as close a perfect specimen of a piece of "history"? that seems to fall up short in my reasoning however.

Im not trying to be obtuse here, just trying to understand more.

:edit: The one thing that I can see that makes the original better than the tampered is quality assurance, but again that seems besides the point as nobody is actually going to shave with this thing i assume.

It really varies from person to person. Some people are concerned mainly with how they look and others look at them as history and want them as close to original as possible even though they may not look terribly good before cleaning and restoration. By restoration I mean buffing the blade, replacing loose pins that type of basic thing.
Most all of us want a good shaver though no matter which category we fall in.
It's basically the same thing as some persons like German razors and others prefer English. It's all in the persons preference.

So far there are three people willing to pay upwards of $400 for that Wonderedge, so it's not really a classical bidding war between to parties.
With that amount of pitting it's surprising that it's going that high, but at the end only those who are willing to pony up the dough know their reasoning.
I'm thinking if I really want one like that and haven't seen it show up in months and have the money, why not. We all value different things differently.

The dubl ducks and later the Filarmonicas became highly collectible and in many cases go for big $. The ducks were very popular with barbers in the old days for their shaving quality and ease of honing and maintaining. Later the word spread on shaving forums such as this one.

The Wonderedge used to have a reputation as being the best shaver of the ducks since it is the only one that is cyro hardened IIRC. The dubl duck Lifetime A.K.A. the reaper will bring even bigger dollars in the rare occasions when one is found in excellent + condition. Some of the Filarmonica models rival the ducks in collectibility and high prices at auction. Whether ducks or Fillys are worth it from a practical shaving point of view is debatable. For some guys who don't have one but want one it apparently is.

If you think that it is odd to see a minty Wonderedge or Goldedge go for big $ wait until you see a razor with fancy celluloid scales and a rusty, chipped up blade go for the same kind of money. Collectors are a crazy bunch. I can say that because it takes one to know one. :)

Wow, I guess I can say congratulations to whoever won this auction. Dont know if that is the right word since I have seen wonderedge's go for half that in better condition, i mean wow, $570. Thats a lot of money, I could have bought 3 or 4 brand new dovo or bokers for that much. I would love to have a wonder-edge, but not at that price tag.

It can be hype, people going "ImusthaveitImusthaveit!!!" and bidding whatever it takes to win or just someone with very deep pockets!

We also go for razors that can be used and are less fussed about the look of them. Other guys collect them for the scales, or for the unusual shape of the blade or some other esoteric reason we humble shavers know not of! :)