Thread: Antique dealers....or crack addicts?

I agree that the prices are starting to really climb. I know there are collectors out there that do not care about the blades and just collect them for the scales. I frequent mostly antique malls and the prices are skyrocketing. I made mention to one owner that the prices of the few straights there were high for what they were $160 & $110. Granted the razor were very usable with very little to no rust but were nothing real fancy. She told me that in here mind they were indeed overpriced but she does not set prices, just rents space.

In another mall, a person has many straights and all are marked between $150 - $399 and a seven day set at well over $1000. I saw him adding some items one day and asked him how or what he goes by to set his prices. He told me that he likes all the items he has and if someone want them they will have to pay. I did not reply and just walked away thinking to myself now I know why his items never move.

A few have even said that straights are becoming hard to get and that is also driving the prices up. We just have to look harder and be more patient. I did just pass on one today but may go get it tomorrow. It was a close to spotless 5/8ths Fox Cutlery but the price was close to pushing my limit.

1. About a year ago, I was in the Vancouver BC flea market, and found the _one_ seller of straight razors. I went through his stuff, and found one old Boker in good condition with a cracked scale. How much? "Oh, that's the broken one -- you can have it for $7." It's my one _real bargain_.


2. The limit to antique prices for shavers is set by the availability of new straight razors and DE's that match, or exceed, the performance of the vintage stuff. As long as I can buy a Merkur or Jagger DE for $30-$40, and a Dovo or Boker for $80-$100, I'm not going to spend more than that on a run-of-the-mill vintage piece.

Of course, there's no limit to the price for collectors. It's a whole different mindset.

Charles