Sight unseen straight razor

During my search for a straight razor I read a lot of recommendations for whippeddog sight unseen razor. I did end up buying one from him, but I also saw another seller offering sight unseen razors.

On etsy, a seller by the name Sylversteel offers a sight unseen for $35 plus shipping. He also has a sight unseen with a cowhide latigo strop for $65 and shipping. 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.

A quick google search here on the forums doesnt show his name popping up. Anyone ever order from Sylversteel? His representative pics look pretty good and I know I saw the latigo leather recommended somewhere. . .

Not familiar with him...but I know Larry at WD and he will take care of you!

It seems to me that by the time you buy several sight unseen razors and strops you would spend more money than simply buying something you can see and like.

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Originally Posted by Ernie1980

Not familiar with him...but I know Larry at WD and he will take care of you!

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+1 to what Ernie1980 said. I have not heard of that etsy seller before and so cannot vouch for him or his products or services. That's not to say that the etsy seller isn't good, just that I haven't heard of him before. It can be tough for a new vendor to get started, regardless of quality, so I'm curious to see if anyone has bought from that vendor.

But as has been said, Larry is well known. Your razor may not be pretty, but it will be shave-ready.

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Originally Posted by Cangooner

Your razor may not be pretty, but it will be shave-ready.

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That pretty much sums up the razor I got from Larry. Ended up with a tonsorial gem. I bought the $43 sight unseen but noticed last night the scale is cracked on one side. Not saying it came that way, just something I noticed.

Still have to I'd the scale material. I assume celluloid but it almost looks like veins making me wonder if it might be bone.

Attachment 223415Attachment 223416

The scales are made of bone.
That rust spot at the tip on the backside is troublesome - put some wd40 or 3-in-1 and see if it'll turn black. It really should be sanded to metal though, or at the very least converted to black using vinegar or something - too late as it's already honed.

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Anyone use sylversrteel yet? Am about to do it myself.


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Ya know, these new guy's have a tendency to Not follow the Excellent advice given, Right Here in this thread, so, I will not offer any, the Gent's I have seen follow the advice Are happier shavers, so you new guys do exactly what you want and hope it turns out well for you. Dave.

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Originally Posted by FAL

Ya know, these new guy's have a tendency to Not follow the Excellent advice given, Right Here in this thread, so, I will not offer any, the Gent's I have seen follow the advice Are happier shavers, so you new guys do exactly what you want and hope it turns out well for you. Dave.

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There is a great little 5/8 torrey on the classified list at 55.00 Looks like a great razor to start out or end up with. Of course that would be a sight seen razor then!!!

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Originally Posted by greatbolo

There is a great little 5/8 torrey on the classified list at 55.00 Looks like a great razor to start out or end up with. Of course that would be a sight seen razor then!!!

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I saw that one I actually sent the seller a message looking into it. My first razor that I got is a Torrey and I got it from Whippeddog. Worked great but was learning to strop on it and want to send it in because i think I chipped it and probably rolled the edge.


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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.

I'm not truly into it for collecting or anything and I don't have RAD I'm looking for a second razor so I can send mine to get honed. And I have no real idea what i am looking for or should be looking for. Just to much information I get lost reading for hours but from my take a lot of restores are geared more towards collectors. I just want something decent enough not too sure I'm going to stick to straights. Or go with my shavette in the long run. If I'm going to stick to straight I was thinking of buying a hart steel razor or a new razor from SRD.


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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.

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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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Originally Posted by Rdefreitas

I'm not truly into it for collecting or anything and I don't have RAD I'm looking for a second razor so I can send mine to get honed. And I have no real idea what i am looking for or should be looking for. Just to much information I get lost reading for hours but from my take a lot of restores are geared more towards collectors. I just want something decent enough not too sure I'm going to stick to straights. Or go with my shavette in the long run. If I'm going to stick to straight I was thinking of buying a hart steel razor or a new razor from SRD.


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If you have an eye on a razor or have a question feel free to personal message anyone on here that you are comfortable with. I can just about promise if you but something from here it will be as advertised. I have never heard of anything different and I have bought at least 10 razors off here.

The razors n the classifieds are usually represented well, and if said shave ready will most likely be, we use them so that's what you want and your making it more difficult than it is, a low cost razor till you know what you are going to do and the classifieds are a great place to do it. As FAL has said take the advise given or not, but remember it was given. Tc

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Originally Posted by tcrideshd

The razors n the classifieds are usually represented well, and if said shave ready will most likely be, we use them so that's what you want and your making it more difficult than it is, a low cost razor till you know what you are going to do and the classifieds are a great place to do it. As FAL has said take the advise given or not, but remember it was given. Tc

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I was looking at one there and I thought I had sent a message to the seller of one but didn't see my message in the outbox don't think went through. So missed out on a nice little Torrey but I am looking here first. Now I also have a fellow member who is reaching out to me and is helping me out.


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