Thread: eBay sellers offering fake Filarmonicas?

The time it would take to forge this blade and hammer the writing in the tang you would have more time in making it then it would be worth. I guess that is one good thing about straight razors. the time you would put into faking one would not be worth your time. so you really don't have to worry about repops.

I think you'll find it's a genuine Filly but it's pretty well documented that they had some quality control issues near the end of their production.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

The last of those that were made were sold off by Classic Shaving years ago. They were NOS pieces and though they had cheap plastic scales and the razor was devoid of ornamentation and had a very basic finish to it, still it was a quality blade with good workmanship requiring a good deal of honing before initial use.

Those were the stainless 'Doble temple' ones with the laser etched blades that just say 'Filarmonica', right? I own one but can't say I'm very impressed with it. Purchased it from classicshaving back in 2004 or 2005 I think. Don't doubt classicshaving's word that they're genuine NOS Filarmonica but compared to another model (Sub Cero) by José Monserrat Pou that I shaved with it's apparent that there's a huge quality difference. Totally different blades of course and Filarmonica is not exactly known for its sumptuous scales. The honemeister who took care of making it shave ready indeed mailed me at the time to say that it was a difficult blade to get just right. I still occasionally shave with it but think it'll end up on the bay one of the next times I do some house cleaning, to me it just doesn't feel/perform exactly right.

Originally Posted by Gotdzel

I recently bought a Filarmonica Novadur from a certain eBay seller. All the pictures were very convincing and that I would be getting a very nice New Old Stock Filly. What I got instead was an absolute forgery. The scales were very sloppily pinned together, the blade felt "cheap" and had several workmanship flaws that I have never seen from Filarmonica.

Here you can see the pin flaws. The two scale halves don't meet right and the pins were hammered together lopsided:
Attachment 134124


Here you can see where the blade was ground wrong and got too hot resulting in the blueing near the shoulder on both sides of the blade:
Attachment 134125

Next look at the blade profile. It doesn't have that crispness that I am accustomed to on my other Fillys. Instead, it is more rounded at both ends and it was FAR from sharp. It has the feel of a cheap knife rather than a fine razor. The typical muted square point is non-existent. Also notice the blue heat mark showing on this side as well.
Attachment 134126

Finally, look at the lack of jimping. A Novadur should have jimping, and the pictures he shows in the listing show jimping. This razor has none. I am also not very comfortable with the writing on the blade. It sort of looks right, but doesn't match other Fillys.
Attachment 134127

Attachment 134128


I have returned this razor to him and am waiting for a full refund. He seems to be selling legitimate gear, but beware of what you are buying. Some may be real, but some like this are not genuine.

the razor looks fine to me.
The wedge looks pretty messed up but that can happen with time.
Faking the blade and leaving the scales to look like crap does not make sense to me from commercial standpoint.

Originally Posted by mainaman

the razor looks fine to me.
The wedge looks pretty messed up but that can happen with time.
Faking the blade and leaving the scales to look like crap does not make sense to me from commercial standpoint.

That's good to hear. I'll email you about one that I'd like to see if you can "fix".

Originally Posted by xenophon

Those were the stainless 'Doble temple' ones with the laser etched blades that just say 'Filarmonica', right? I own one but can't say I'm very impressed with it. Purchased it from classicshaving back in 2004 or 2005 I think. Don't doubt classicshaving's word that they're genuine NOS Filarmonica but compared to another model (Sub Cero) by José Monserrat Pou that I shaved with it's apparent that there's a huge quality difference. Totally different blades of course and Filarmonica is not exactly known for its sumptuous scales. The honemeister who took care of making it shave ready indeed mailed me at the time to say that it was a difficult blade to get just right. I still occasionally shave with it but think it'll end up on the bay one of the next times I do some house cleaning, to me it just doesn't feel/perform exactly right.

Mine is a great shaver. It just needs to be honed to shave ready condition. The blade is of equal quality to their other stuff just that it is very plain.