Thread: I think I know the answer to this but I am going ot ask anyway.

I made myself a promise that I wasn't going to buy anymore razors until I finished restoring the ones I already have. OK so I broke my own rule.

As I was cruising eBay the other night I did buy a razor I liked. IT was under $30 shipped and I'm happy with that. It was a nice razor in decent shape and just needs a bit of clean up.

As I looked around at razors I noticed a few that actually made me stop and go Huh! WHAT THE HECK!

One was a razor that had the entire edge broken off about 1/8" 'up the entire length of the blade. and the hone wear was drastic on top of that. Price BIN $70 Huh!

Another was so worn it tapered almost to a point and only a little of the hollow was left in the blade. Price BIN $65

Now I am pretty sure that these particular sellers either had no idea what the razor market would actually bare for those items or they were just fishing for a sucker. But it got me to thinking.

I saw several examples of this type of thing from both us sellers and a few from foreign sellers. Yes I am relatively a new kid on the block but I have been here long enough to see that most of you don't have much interest in blades that are beyond legitimate use with no life left in them.

SO my question is this. Are there razors out that have collectors value because of their age or maker no matter what the condition?

I have seen the same, however junk is junk, whether collectible or not. Some guys pay high dollar for, say a Filarmonica or Grim Reaper which is total toast. I hope they like it! The razor community has surpassed these buyers and sellers in knowledge, IMO. There will come a day soon when these things will not be listed for sale as no one will buy.

If it had some kind of personal meaning, like manufactured in my home area, definitely. But that's more of a personal value than collectors value. I guess if there are enough people from my hometown who are interested then it could be collector value

Edit: just saw Sharptonn's post - there was recently a "lifetime" with grim reaper scales that went for $100, even though the blade had a huge chunk out (ebay number 160720372150)

The answer to your question is: It depends on who you ask.

A friend of mine has seven razors that will never be worth a dime as a shaver, but she got them from her late father, who was a barber. How much do you think they're worth to her? Priceless.

Originally Posted by RayCover

SO my question is this. Are there razors out that have collectors value because of their age or maker no matter what the condition?

IMHO the only time this would apply is if the example was the only one of it's kind left in existence, or very rare, there are plenty of sellers on e bay that have hopped on to the bandwagon and think any razor is worth loads regardless of condition.
I have a list that I am slowly working through, my 'must haves' but I will only buy examples that can be restored to a shaving state, for me there is no point otherwise.

IME collectors of fancy celluloid, usually decorated, scales don't necessarily care if the blade is in, what we would consider, poor condition. Also collectors of pressed horn or ivory scales with scrimshaw or decorative carving, pins pushed into the ivory or bone creating a design. Those guys don't focus on the blade. OTOH, I'm sure they're happy if the blade is in good displayable condition. That is all they do with their razors anyway.

I'd pay a buck or two for a blade that's toast if it had some minty, nice ivory scales on it. Then, I could chuck the blade and dress those scales with an appropriate blade

Yes and no.
Generally, no. These razors aren't worth squat.
However, there are collectors who collect razors for the scales. I have see rusted toothpick blades go for 700+ dollars because it had fancy scales. The type of scales with a special engraving or shape. Celluloid scales, but fancy ones.

Personally, I think those people are insane. But then again, I am not a collector, and if there is a market for those things, who am I to say they're stupid.
They don't have intrinsic value though. Not like a quality blade which will hold a very good edge and which will last another 200 years.
That type of razor is pretty rare though.

As I already mentioned: generally speaking those blades are crap, and the seller has just tacked on a price in the hope that someone buys it.
Or 2 fools have started a bidding war, just to 'win'

I have one customer that is "One of Those Guys" I have done quite a few scale switches for him.. He has 1000's of razors and thinks we are freaking crazy for shaving with them... All his have "Figural" scales and many are hand painted all the value is in the scales he only wants "nice looking" steel in them I have polished a few razors for him but he could careless what steel goes with what scales his eye is on the scales... his only statement everytime he sends a batch is the same "Just please be careful Glen"

"Beauty (Value) is truly in the eye of the beholder"

I have seen some of these scales go for prices with a rusted, cracked, chipped, razor that would make any of us blanche at the amounts

Thanks for the input guys. I guess it really comes down to what a guy likes as to what he is willing to pay for.