Tally-Ho F. Fenney Rough & Ready Razor

Hi there,

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide. I hope the forum is OK with know-nothings like me posting.

I recently found this razor in some things I was left by a relative. It has been sitting in a box for 20+ years and has no external box or pouch. I have done what little research I can via the internet, specifically this forum. From what I have read, this razor was made pre-1852 and has an ebony handle. The only other razor I've seen similar is this one, and it appears several times, having been sold by Heritage a few years ago. Am I right to consider my razor like this one was described, as a commemorative of Zachary Taylor? I am a coin guy, so I guess I'd describe my razor as 'extra-fine' perhaps? Maybe a touch lower? I know better than to clean it in any way. I'll save that decision for its next owner.

Anyway, I'm not attached to it and have more than enough to occupy my time right now. Is there a resource to which you can point me so I can try and determine the razor's value? I'm not advertising it here for sale by any means, just trying to do my homework, as I should.

Thanks again for any help you can give.

http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/...RazorBlade.jpg
http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/...oRazorFull.jpg
http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/...azorHandle.jpg
http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/...RazorStamp.jpg

A couple things I can tell you:
1. Those are pressed horn, not ebony.
2. Very cool razor!
3. We don't discuss value or intent to sell here on SRP, your best bet really is to sell it for what either you need for it, or what the market will give for it.

Ponyboy:

That may be a good candidate to get professionally restored. In the condition it's in (and can be restored to), I would imagine the cost to be more than justified.

The toughest part would be getting the etch cleaned without removing it. Doable, but will need a lot of care.

Thanks for the responses so far. While I certainly understand you don't want to even potentially assign value, I'm really just hoping to find a resource which will help me do just that. The razor simply does not pique my interest and I'd prefer to pass it along (sell it) to someone whose it does. As I mentioned, I'm a coin collector. For a rare coin, I would refer to the Red Book or Grey Sheet. Is there a reference out there which will help me in such a way with regard to this razor? If this is not the forum for such banal talk, I will excuse myself immediately and offer sincere apologies. However, since my original post I have received several private messages about direct purchase, so it seems some here have a value in mind.

Thanks again.

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Originally Posted by Ponyboy

Thanks for the responses so far. While I certainly understand you don't want to even potentially assign value, I'm really just hoping to find a resource which will help me do just that. The razor simply does not pique my interest and I'd prefer to pass it along (sell it) to someone whose it does. As I mentioned, I'm a coin collector. For a rare coin, I would refer to the Red Book or Grey Sheet. Is there a reference out there which will help me in such a way with regard to this razor? If this is not the forum for such banal talk, I will excuse myself immediately and offer sincere apologies. However, since my original post I have received several private messages about direct purchase, so it seems some here have a value in mind.

Thanks again.

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I think the problem stems from the fact that there is no standardized guide to razor values. It really is a 'in the eye of the beholder' hobby at this point. As an example - while most production runs of coins are readily known, and the rarity of a coin imparts much of it's value, the same isn't necessarily true in the razor world. Of the 4 straight razors I have, two of them are almost completely unique; for one of them, I can find reference to one other razor with the same mark ('Carnos'). The other, I can find evidence of no other existing razors with the same mark ('The Queen Razor'). However, neither of these gain any specific value from their rarity.

For all you know there is a millionaire SR enthusiast out there who also has an affinity for vintage Americana. If so, you could sell this razor for a much higher price than you could if such a man doesn't exist. The only way to find out is to list it high, and drop the price slowly until someone bites.

As a bit of an addendum, you can sometime judge a bit of the value by looking at what similar items have sold for on Ebay. I can only find one similar at ANTIQUE F. FENNEY "TALLY HO" SHEFFIELD - RAZOR -- NICE | eBay. However, that one doesn't have the blade etch.

I would highly suggest you get it professionally restored; 'original condition' doesn't mean too much in the world of straight razors, and that will raise it's appeal to potential sellers. Certainly, it's an investment that would pay for itself in this case.

Man! That's a cool razor! Anybody would like to have that! There is a" razor "forum where you can post and ask questions about it. Money is taboo. Bet it's sold?

Caydel, Thank you very much. That's just the kind of info I was looking for. I'll admit I'm surprised that 'restoring' a razor like this would enhance its appeal, while the opposite is generally true of rare coins. I'll start to look into that right away and if anyone has additional thoughts I would be happy to learn more.

Thanks again.

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I would highly suggest you get it professionally restored; 'original condition' doesn't mean too much in the world of straight razors, and that will raise it's appeal to potential sellers. Certainly, it's an investment that would pay for itself in this case.

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PMFJI --

"Original condition" may not be important in the world of razors (as represented on this Forum), but it _is_ important in the world of antiques.

I don't have the specialist knowledge needed to determine whether the razor would be worth more "as is", or "restored". I'm sure _somebody_ has that knowledge, though.

Charles