Thread: Antique Stores

I like to shop in antique stores. Sometimes I see straight razors. I have read some of the posts about bad razors on ebay, other than curved, crooked, pitted, or damaged steel, should I look for, and does anyone have an idea of how much I should not pay, other than the astronomical amounts of more than $50. Right now that is probably my budget, have to ask my partner what she can put in the budget. (that is just for the razor) I will be able to sell the need for supplies easily, she is a firm believer in thoroughly supporting my hobbies, once I get her on board.

Make sure you have read through this section, it will help.
Purchasing straight razors - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Thanks for pointing that one out (link) I had only read part of it on my registration day. I now, at least, feel comfy looking at razors in an antique store. I will see how I do. It will be a couple of months before my blades get to dull to shave with. I will keep reading until then. Have a great day.

My first antique store razor I paid $17 for and I was skeptical. But it was a Hibbard, Spencer, and Bartlet which was on the "good brands of straight razors" list and I learned a lot sanding and polishing by hand and that was the razor I learned to hone on. It took me a while before I finally got a decent edge. After that I just improved and now it is actually one of my best shavers. So you don't have to spend a whole lot to get some good razors, I usually spend somewhere between $15-$30 occasionally a little more.

You can find some great razors in antique and second hand stores but I have to ask you a question. Would this be your first Str8? If so I would highly recommend buying your first one here in the classifieds. First you'll get a "shave ready" (ask to make sure) razor within your budget. If your just starting out you'll have a lot of issues to tackle without adding honing to the list. You're more likely to have a successful outcome going this route first. Save the antique hunt for later on in your journey.

As stated in the wiki, buy from the classified. You will get a shave ready razor that someone who knows what to look for has determined it is a good razor with little or no defects and was able to put an edge on it.

So if you decide to not take the advice in this thread and the Wiki, accept the fact you will most probably end up buying some junk. You also may find a gem, what’s that they say about the blind squirrel?
What is a good price? It depends where you are and what you know, as to what the price will be. I see razors from 5 to 100 dollars in antique stores and everyone thinks their razors have Ivory scales.

The more you know the better you can negotiate. Remember you can always walk away, there is another razor around the corner.

I have spent the five dollars and well over a hundred in Antique stores for NOS razors wrapped in tissue in the original box. $50 may not be astronomical.

Once you buy it you will have to clean it and then send it out for honing or purchase a set of hones and learn to hone it. Your 5 dollar razor could cost you a couple of hundred dollars before you ever shave with it. And then it may not be a shaveable razor.

Look at it this way, if you bought new, expect to pay about $200 for a decent razor. If you are lucky and bought from someone who actually knew Straight Razors, it will be shave ready. If not, you will have to spend 20-30 dollars more for honing. So if you can buy a good razor and have it repaired and honed for under $230 total, you are ahead of the game.

Compare that with a 50-100 dollar shave ready razor, satisfaction guarantee, from someone who probably knew what they were doing, or at least knew more that you, then decide where to spend your money. Where do you think you will have the most successful purchase?

By the way, I do not have any razors for sale in the Classifieds… I have bought some though.

Wow, great advice. I can always wait until i actually buy one from an antique store, not like it is a burning desire. After talking to my better half, (she thinks I will cut my throat, due to some partial paralysis on my right side) I told her I was not joking and that we would have to budget for it before the end of the year. I will definitely buy a razor from the classifieds. Once I am able to shave w/o cratering and slicing my face to badly, I can worry about the advanced stuff later.
I really appreciate y'alls time on this. Once I get closer I will let y'all know and we can begin the choosing. Hope to talk to y'all soon.
Ron

Toldekk

Based on what I have seen lately in antique stores, 75 % are junk cracked, major chips, bent or worn spines.

20 % are in need of substantial repairs, for a novice shaver, missing or broken scales, edge damage, chips, frowns, heel spurs, uneven hone wear, rust, enlarged pivot pin hole & alignment issues.

5% are good razors no major damage, you can clean with polish, hone & shave. Less than 1% are pristine.

Category 2, are restorable the trick, is knowing the difference between Category 1 & 2. Not all problems are readily observable.

We see novice shavers asking questions about their new razor purchase … and then never hear from them again. I suspect the shaving adventure was overwhelming when added to razor selection, restoration, and maintenance.

Take the time to learn one piece at a time then expand your experience. Set yourself up for success, not failure.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

Toldekk

Based on what I have seen lately in antique stores, 75 % are junk cracked, major chips, bent or worn spines.

20 % are in need of substantial repairs, for a novice shaver, missing or broken scales, edge damage, chips, frowns, heel spurs, uneven hone wear, rust, enlarged pivot pin hole & alignment issues.

5% are good razors no major damage, you can clean with polish, hone & shave. Less than 1% are pristine.

Category 2, are restorable the trick, is knowing the difference between Category 1 & 2. Not all problems are readily observable.

We see novice shavers asking questions about their new razor purchase … and then never hear from them again. I suspect the shaving adventure was overwhelming when added to razor selection, restoration, and maintenance.

Take the time to learn one piece at a time then expand your experience. Set yourself up for success, not failure.

This says it all. Early on in buying straight razors, I went for anything, rust and chips and all and even $15 is too much for that crap. Now I look for a clean blade with maybe minor rust or patina and good edge and scales. Also, even if the razor looks good and is cheap, usually you can talk the price down from there.

I got a J A Henckels for $10, that looked like junk until I hand sanded and polished and honed it. I got an NOS 15/16 Bartmann with a perfect factory edge, original box, tag, paper, grease for $120 (asking price was $150). Just last weekend I went to Danville Virginia and found a Goldenedge Dubl Duck for $25, Blue Steel (Carl Schmidt for $30) that was pristine and almost shave ready, a Geo Wolstenholm and 2 others in great shape for $30 each. They all honed up really quickly. I was lucky.

Also look for hone wear on the spine and overhoned toes or heels, scale cracks at the pivot pins, celluloid rot of the scales.