Thread: Im new.. please help !!

I know if they were mine I would never sell them. At least that's how good I think a Mappin and Webb is. I have never used one, but that's because I ultimately realized that it's impossible to try everything there is out there that's appealing. They look like outstanding razors. I agree with the advice to have them professionally honed, and perhaps refurbished if you would like them to look more pristine.

I'm not a moderator but do have lots of moderator experience on other forums. There are people who get their jollies out of aggravating members, ripping off members, and making money off of members. It's a lot more fun to be a member than a member-moderator, believe me.

We are a community of people who have an above average interest in traditional wetshaving, plus we like to exchange advice and help new members with their learning curve.

Assessing a value of something opens a can of worms that could cause a razor to be sold for too much or too little. It can only hurt a forum. Values fluctuate if you study ebay, depending on how popular something is at this particular moment. Buyers and sellers don't always know what something is worth. Through participation and over time you can form an opinion, but it might not agree with someone else's.

No intent to make you feel unwelcome here. If I were you I'd get those babies fixed up and enjoy them all to yourself.

Originally Posted by CaliforniaCajun

I know if they were mine I would never sell them. At least that's how good I think a Mappin and Webb is. I have never used one, but that's because I ultimately realized that it's impossible to try everything there is out there that's appealing. They look like outstanding razors. I agree with the advice to have them professionally honed, and perhaps refurbished if you would like them to look more pristine.

I'm not a moderator but do have lots of moderator experience on other forums. There are people who get their jollies out of aggravating members, ripping off members, and making money off of members. It's a lot more fun to be a member than a member-moderator, believe me.

We are a community of people who have an above average interest in traditional wetshaving, plus we like to exchange advice and help new members with their learning curve.

Assessing a value of something opens a can of worms that could cause a razor to be sold for too much or too little. It can only hurt a forum. Values fluctuate if you study ebay, depending on how popular something is at this particular moment. Buyers and sellers don't always know what something is worth. Through participation and over time you can form an opinion, but it might not agree with someone else's.

No intent to make you feel unwelcome here. If I were you I'd get those babies fixed up and enjoy them all to yourself.

Thanks for the advice... do i really need all six of them ? I have looked on e-bay i cant find any the same, well the ones i do find have had the listings removed because they are over 60 days old or what ever it says.... I really did try to find more information on them before i posted on here but couldnt find a great deal..... hence finding this place and deciding to ask about them... its natural to wonder what something is worth...
Do i need to get them honed ? they seem very sharp and as i mentioned were previously owned by a carpenter ... all his tools were very sharp, every chisel, every draw knife, custom made knifes etc... every thing in his garage would slice a rizzla paper no problem... i also have the old honing stones from the same collection... he obviously was a pro when it came to sharpening blades.... how often do you normally get them honed ?
Thanks

If you look around this site a little you will find a little info on Mappin and Webb here Mappin & Webb "The Celebrated Hollow Ground" 11/16 - Straight Razor Place Wiki . Pairs and sets of multiple razors are seen less often than single razors so you may have to be patient in your e-bay searching for them to show up.

If you think they are sharp enough to shave with as is then have at her, you'll know soon enough if they aren't. If you find they aren't sharp enough you could always try to hone them up on the old stones. I don't think anyone on this forum would advise doing either for a beginner who has never shaved with a straight razor and I am certainly NOT doing so, that was meant tongue in cheek. You are certainly free to ignore any well meaning advice given.

There is a ton of info here and if you wade through it most of your questions will be answered.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

If you look around this site a little you will find a little info on Mappin and Webb here Mappin & Webb "The Celebrated Hollow Ground" 11/16 - Straight Razor Place Wiki . Pairs and sets of multiple razors are seen less often than single razors so you may have to be patient in your e-bay searching for them to show up.

If you think they are sharp enough to shave with as is then have at her, you'll know soon enough if they aren't. If you find they aren't sharp enough you could always try to hone them up on the old stones. I don't think anyone on this forum would advise doing either for a beginner who has never shaved with a straight razor and I am certainly NOT doing so, that was meant tongue in cheek. You are certainly free to ignore any well meaning advice given.

There is a ton of info here and if you wade through it most of your questions will be answered.

Bob

ha... thanks Bob so not cheap enough to learn honing with then ?

Originally Posted by magicmistertea

Thanks for the advice... do i really need all six of them ? I have looked on e-bay i cant find any the same, well the ones i do find have had the listings removed because they are over 60 days old or what ever it says.... I really did try to find more information on them before i posted on here but couldnt find a great deal..... hence finding this place and deciding to ask about them... its natural to wonder what something is worth...
Do i need to get them honed ? they seem very sharp and as i mentioned were previously owned by a carpenter ... all his tools were very sharp, every chisel, every draw knife, custom made knifes etc... every thing in his garage would slice a rizzla paper no problem... i also have the old honing stones from the same collection... he obviously was a pro when it came to sharpening blades.... how often do you normally get them honed ?
Thanks

There may be a day when you want all six of them. It would be a shame to let go of them before you give yourself a chance to get hooked.

For the most part, I use 7 razors and touch them up about every three months. That's probably 10-12 shaves, which is likely more often than I need to. I have more but don't want to part with the little fellers.

I would still send them out to be honed because they may be sharp, but you don't know for sure how sharp. I bought a razor about three months ago. The seller made no claim they were shave ready, but it seemed really sharp. My face was filleted. I have a little 100X microscope and ooooh, it looked like the teeth of my saw in the outdoor shed.

Regarding the value of the razors, I don't really care how much mine are worth. They treat my face nice, and I have fun looking at them and using them.

okay if they are worth keeping and using them is that good then i will keep all of them, get them honed and try shaving with them....

what are the handles on the black set made of ? are they plastic ? is there any way of telling what date they were made ?

Just go here and there are lots of how tos Straight Razor Place Wiki - Straight Razor Place Wiki .

Bob

okay I would like to say thanks for the advice... I have now had a good read around the site... I have read the starters guide.... and I can see that there is a lot to learn !!! I have had a pm about buying my razors... to which i replied they are Not for sale and I have fired off a few pms about buying some cheap shave ready razors from the classifieds to practise shaving and honing etc... I have learnt a lot in the last day including the fact you guys call the handle the "scales" amongst lots of other things !! I work with tools everyday and love the fact you guys take so much care of your blades... I have found out a little more information on my razors... including the fact valuations can vary massively. But i would like to know a few more things if anyone can tell me please ??.... what material are the scales on my black set ? and also roughly what year would these sets date from ?
Thanks

Yea, there is a lot to learn. If you want more info on the razors clearer photos of the stampings on the tangs would help. If the stampings say Sheffield and England is absent then they could be pre 1891 or there abouts. If England is included then post 1891. You could try a web search for the retailers named on the boxes who originally sold them. Can't help you much more just not an expert on that stuff.

Bob