Thread: Sight unseen straight razor

Well, place an order with him and report back

Even finding restorable razors has been frustrating me lately. I would like to try restoring a blade or 2 myself but as you say, cheap quality doesn't exist. Some restoration articles say you shouldn't pay more than $10 for a blade that needs restoration. Those articules must be about 10 years old. $10 today buys you a pakistan blade, but not much more.

For a newbie like me, I cant tell the difference between a $30 gem in the rough and a $100 razor shaped object.

I'll be placing an order with him in the next week. He's out until the 7th according to his page.

Originally Posted by prodigy

I'm going to try and put some quality, shave ready razors, under $50 in the classifieds this week. I have a bunch of blades in my restore bin, but I figure I can just hone them up to shave ready and sell them as is. I know that there are lots of guys looking for cheap razors, but it's not easy to go cheap and get decent quality.

I'd be all over this. I'm looking for a 6/8 as my second blade. Let me know!

The reason that I suggest the Classifieds is because there you will get a decent quality razor, without "issues," that has been honed properly and you will know what you are getting. That is not the case with a sight unseen razor that may have all sorts of problems with it; but if you are feeling lucky then go ahead and buy a sight unseen razor and a lottery ticket.

You'd have better odds with the lottery ticket

What this guy said!

Originally Posted by Utopian

If you look in the Classifieds of this forum, you will find much better deals on much better razors. You not only will find them, you also will see them.

Buying a sight unseen razor is recommended for a reason. Not everyone is going to stay with straight razor shaving. Buying a razor just because it looks good doesn't mean it will work perfect for you. A 5/8 round razor is recommended for most users but until you try something different you don't know what you might be missing. Some people might be better off with a 3/8 or a 6/8. Getting a sight unseen lets me try things I may never have looked twice at.

I would assume the razors on the classifieds are good quality but how would a newbie like me really know the difference. This post has/had nothing to do with buying a sight unseen vs a good quality blade from the classifieds. The original idea of the post was to get feedback on an unknown seller offering another option to new shavers.

Until this post, the only option was whippeddog, classifieds, or a crapshoot on craigslist/antiques stores. I plan on taking a chance with etsy for the same reason whippeddog is recommended. A shave ready razor for a good price. I may end up with a holy grail razor or a pakistani razor object.

Originally Posted by Greedyrogue

Has anyone actually been to the classified lately? 1 razor for $30 and rest are $50+ Spending $35 on a sight unseen doesnt seem so bad right now.

I bought a whippeddog razor. Personally I would have considered it a flawed even though I ordered the regular sight unseen. But that's just my opinion and probably just my high expectations.

So far every shave just has my face feeling like I poured alcohol on it and set it on fire. Whether its a dull razor or just bad technique, I honestly can't say for sure.

What you have experienced and described is also why I recommended the Classifieds. IF there is a flawed razor listed, then it will specifically describe the flaw. You will know what you are buying and it will be honed properly and you will know who honed it.

Originally Posted by Greedyrogue

Even finding restorable razors has been frustrating me lately. I would like to try restoring a blade or 2 myself but as you say, cheap quality doesn't exist. Some restoration articles say you shouldn't pay more than $10 for a blade that needs restoration. Those articules must be about 10 years old. $10 today buys you a pakistan blade, but not much more.

For a newbie like me, I cant tell the difference between a $30 gem in the rough and a $100 razor shaped object.

And that is exactly why it is not unreasonable to charge $50+ for a razor. When you consider that the cheapest new razors are $100+, those razors are quite a bargain, especially as many tend to be of better quality than entry-level new razors. When the Classifieds seller is paying, as you pointed out, more than $10 for the razor and just finding that razor takes time and then takes the time and effort to restore, hone, photograph, post, and ship your razor, then I consider that beginners (and others) are getting a bargain when they are able to buy from the Classifieds for half the price of a new razor.

First I would hit your local Antique shops for a razor or 2, find a cheapo China made one and practice honing and stropping it, when you can take it from being sharp to dull to sharp again then you can find a nice one and get it shaving sharp in no time. Its what I have done. Plus go back a few pages in the stropping and honing sections for good tips and advice.

Originally Posted by Greedyrogue

Being new to straights and strops, what would your opinion be of trying it out? Would the strop be worth getting the package deal? Shipped to my place, I'd save $8.50 getting the package deal vs buying seperate.

The biggest problem with buying sight unseen razors is that they are often a disposable item rather than something that can be rehoned everytime you mis strop the edge & beginners always dull their razors. You may be a gambler & you may even be lucky . It's your money.

As for a razor with rust on it I would not put it across my strops so I would be one of those guys who would not take on that hone job without extra repair costs & then your cheap razor is no longer cheap.