Thread: Wow - what a score!

here's the link

$13 total w/ shipping.

Yah, I saw the chip. But come on, if it weren't there the razor would be worth in the hundreds... I will probably grind it to a smiling edge, as cutting this beauty short seems sacrilegious

But even if I junk the blade altogether (and I am sure I can at least shorten it) the scales, no, the box itself usually goes for more!

Cheers
Ivo

Nice score Ivo. You can just hone it straight (tape, coarse grit and go circular) and still get a great shaver out of it.

Ilija,

I still cannot understand why I was able to get this so cheap. I have seen just Puma boxes go for over 15 (clearly stating box only). I think I remember a Puma gold went for 400 or so on ebay and I have heard a couple opinions that these might be worth even 500. I have also seen obviously shortened normal Pumas (not the high-end Puma Gold) go for $50 or so.

Now on to the serious business - your advice: I really thought the chip is just plain too big to take the whole length of the wege. seems 1/16 or so?

Please, don't be offended, but I'd probably like to hear more opinions on this - should I make it a smiley, plain shorten it, or take down the whole edge... But let me say that if it's a 6/8 and I take 1/8 off the whole edge and it works I will be EXTREMELY PLEASED!. Heck, I'll be pleased even with a 4/8 Puma in this condition if it shaves well! It seems in such a good condition that it would be the steal of the, um, at least the year...

Cheers
Ivo

Ivo,
That's a pretty deep chip, and it's going to be very tough to hone out. It also makes the blade extremely prone to cracking in that spot, and that's the death knell of a blade, IMO. You might be able to shorten the blade if it cracks, and I suppose it's possible you'll be able to hone it out, but it looks awful deep into the blade to me. Good luck!

Originally Posted by Joe Chandler

Ivo,
That's a pretty deep chip, and it's going to be very tough to hone out. It also makes the blade extremely prone to cracking in that spot, and that's the death knell of a blade, IMO. You might be able to shorten the blade if it cracks, and I suppose it's possible you'll be able to hone it out, but it looks awful deep into the blade to me. Good luck!

This is what I thought myself, Joe - very deep.

So would you recommend trying to hone out first (as Ilija does), and then shorten if cracked, and totally reject the smiley idea? I am trying to get as many opinions as I can.

Thanks
Ivo

Originally Posted by izlat

here's the link

$13 total w/ shipping.

This razor was up on ebay a few weeks ago without the chip, and was removed at the last minute by the seller, my guess is he was taking new pictures of it for somebody and dropped it.

It was worth hundreds before (I think Robert Williams sold one on ebay for $400+ a few months ago), but it's worth somewhat less than $13 now. Unless you've got just the mole or something...

Originally Posted by izlat

This is what I thought myself, Joe - very deep.

So would you recommend trying to hone out first (as Ilija does), and then shorten if cracked, and totally reject the smiley idea? I am trying to get as many opinions as I can.

Thanks
Ivo

I don't think a smile is going to cure what ails that chip...you'd need an insane Joker from Batman grin. I'd say hone it, and if it cracks, shorten the blade. Otherwise, put it in your display case and call it good. It's not doing you any good now, so if you ruin it, you've lost $13. Not any worse than what you've lost already, and you might make a shaver out of it if you're careful. The best scenario I see for that one would be if the blade already cracked above the chip...then you could just shorten it and call it a day. Be thankful the chip is at the front of the blade, too, instead of at the rear. That would completely ruin it, to me.

Hey Michael

you are a mentor to me but I really have seen just the boxes go for over 13, and the scales on this one are good (it seems). Just the box is worth the $ (to me, at least). Yes, someone bought a 7/8 Puma for $30 mint at a fair or something but let's be realistic...

Moreover, I still think I can shave with a shortened blade. It may be stiffer. I have seen short blades by design on Ducks and Taylor razors. Can't be that bad.

I certainly know I won't pay even 200 for this blade w/o the chip. So now I get to play with a high end razor for, basically, a lunch at a cheap restaurant around here. I just paid more at Longhorn the other day... I'll take this Puma over lunch

Cheers
Ivo

I think you definitely got your money's worth on the deal. I'd try carefully grinding off the leading edge of the razor on an abrasive wheel, just take your time and try to avoid any lateral stresses.

I bought a Robeson Shuredge not long ago with a chip at about that same spot on the blade. On mine, the chip is significantly smaller though. I didn't even attempt to remove the chip, it is still quite visible. I just honed as usual and it is now one of my best shavers, chip and all.

Due to the apparent depth of the chip on yours, you would have to remove about a century's worth of metal to get rid of it. I would hate to remove that much material on such a great razor. Maybe you should try what I did and see if it will perform as mine does? Worth a try anyway.

Scott