Thread: Hello, Plus Pics

Hi. I originally started with safety razors about a month ago, and have been shaving with a straight for a week. I'm using my DEs during the week and the straights for my weekend shave. The straight that I'm learning with is a black Dovo "Best Quality", 5/8" Carbon Steel Straight Razor. I also have the Vintage Blades Red Latigo 3" Hanging Razor Strop, Norton Waterstone 4000/8000 for honing, and Conk soap puck. I'm not coordinated to use 2 hands, so I'm getting better at finding my routine. The funny thing is I can handle my upper lip, but my neck where I seem to be missing some spots. I'm getting there though.

Because of my new found interest I've decided to look through our local antique shops in Fredericksburg, VA, for shaving paraphernalia, and here are some pics if anyone is interested. Plus, I was hoping for some feedback because I'm still sifting through the Wiki to better identify brands. I apologize for cross posting because I don't know how many people here post on B&B, and vice versa. Here's what I found on my trip:

Welcome to SRP!
Your kit seems good, assuming the razor's shave ready.
Your local shops are well stocked! Mine have nothing but the owners looking at me like i'm a lunatic when i ask about straights!
The neck can be awkward. Try stretching the skin over to a flatter spot so you can tackle it.

Originally Posted by ben.mid

Welcome to SRP!
Your kit seems good, assuming the razor's shave ready.
Your local shops are well stocked! Mine have nothing but the owners looking at me like i'm a lunatic when i ask about straights!
The neck can be awkward. Try stretching the skin over to a flatter spot so you can tackle it.

Same here! I call ahead and ask and they respond as if I've asked if they have an ancient Egyptian sarcophagus! I always feel like an idiot.

Anyway, great finds tayker and welcome to SRP! Those particular razors, from what I can tell in the pictures, appear to be a little higher in price than you might want to pay at this point, since you can't fix them up yourself. When you become comfortable with using your hones and restoring razors, you might want to head back there and see what they have. But, at this point you would probably need to send the razors off to a honemeister to get them fixed up and shave ready, and depending on the condition of the razor, it can be $20+ each. So, with some of those razors, the total cost to get it shave ready may not be worth it. If you can, though, you can take some closer pics to include the blades, and better describe the condition of each, and we can let you know if anything jumps out as a great deal.

Welcome to SRP. Nicely stocked antique shop you have there. Here is a link to SRP razor clubs. You can see examples of what members favorites are. Noticing a couple of the price tags it seems to me that you could buy shave ready razors in the SRP classifieds for the same money if not less.

Condition is all important and if I was going to look in shops I would carry an eye loupe with me and check the condition of the edge. I look for full bladed razors with minimal chips and no cracks in the blades or scales. If it is a brand that I really want I may make exceptions to the rule. Good hunting and smooth shaving.

I live in Manassas and work in Fredericksburg. Funny, some of those have been in the shops for a while. I know I've looked at a few of them more than once.

Yep, the prices on those razors is high for an antique shop. They will be there for a while I would suspect.

Nice kit you have. If you didn't get your straights honed by a honemiester you should send at least one out so you know what the edge should feel like. Razors and honing services are available in the classifieds. Hope you enjoy your shaves as much as we do!

Those look like the prices at my antique shops!!! Asking for $60 for a rusted no name brand.... And $25 for zeepks......