Thread: Sight unseen straight razor

Here are my thoughts. I'd rather buy a 10-15$ razor on Craigslist or eBay or from a antique store and use the money I save to buy a combo hone like a Norton. Just be very careful to inspect the razor closely for problems. I've now found several great deals on my own. Then keep looking for straights on the cheap that need little to no work. You can learn to hone and add to your Arsenal. Of course I'm a newbie too, and some of the more seasoned members may not agree...

I've never experienced a truly shave ready straight. But using a Norton, watching tons of honing vids, and searching frequently for used straights, I'm happy with how much I've learned and how far I've come. I'm getting comfortable shaves.

That said, give the etsy option a try. You might just get a good razor with a nice shave ready edge and understand from the get go what a nice straight razor shave is like. Then again, everyone says to just save yourself the time, and buy from the classifieds. Ultimately it's up to you. It's a joirney, and we all go different directions.

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.

I was hoping someone else had bought from sylversteel but no hits so far. Looking at his representative pics and the couple pics in his buyer reviews they all look like great looking razors.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

You just missed a three week period of very affordable razors in the classifieds. If you look in the "archive" section you will see at least 10 or 15 (i didn't actually count, I looked for about 2 seconds...lol) razors in the 30 to 50 dollar range. I look just about every day and lately I have been surprised at how many affordable razors that are in the classifieds. I think most of us guys that have been around awhile avoid buying the lower priced razors so folks like you can snatch them up. Anyways... It comes and it goes. Right now there happens to be lots of expensive razors.

Originally Posted by Redcane

You just missed a three week period of very affordable razors in the classifieds. If you look in the "archive" section you will see at least 10 or 15 (i didn't actually count, I looked for about 2 seconds...lol) razors in the 30 to 50 dollar range. I look just about every day and lately I have been surprised at how many affordable razors that are in the classifieds. I think most of us guys that have been around awhile avoid buying the lower priced razors so folks like you can snatch them up. Anyways... It comes and it goes. Right now there happens to be lots of expensive razors.

Im planning on keeping my eye here in the classifieds here for a few days at least while I figure out what to do.


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