Thread: George Wostenholm & Sons IXL Straight Razor w/Jesse James connection

Hi everyone,
Brand new member here and I would like to thank you all for such a fantastic site? I’m still in the process of looking for a good vintage razor to refurbish and send in for honing and found this one on ebay. It’s under item number: 290914155834; Antique~ George Wostenholm & Sons IXLStraight Razor WITH Jesse James connection
$500.00 is about $400.00 out of my price range but I thoughtit was interesting. Any chance this could have a connection with Jesse James?
Thanx again for having me as a member and I have learned alot since I found this site.
I am also looking at a few George Wostenholm & Sons IXLrazors for my own use. Would these be good razor candidates for refurbishment?

We don't do valuations here but personally I wouldn't even spend $40 on that razor(value is what someone is willing to spend on something) and anyone can carve a name on a scale so I'd've been a little sceptical about that.

I only have one 'Wostenholm IXL' and it's a great razor, any old Sheffie in decent condition should make a great razor.

Yeah, there's a chance; there's a chance it was owned by Teddy Roosevelt at one point too. Even with paperwork I would find that hard to trust. Razors with special, verified provenance often go through a well-known auction house rather than ebay. And, as said, anyone with a knife can scratch a name into a razor.

This isn't even the first dubious Jesse James razor to make the rounds. Here's a different one Razor Belonging To Jesse James Marked "Jwj" : Lot 113.

Considering how many razors have passed through our members' hands, we'd have seen a lot more scales with famous names legitimately engraved on them if this were common practice "back in the day." The odds that only notorious outlaws chose to autograph their stuff are slim. It's most likely that someone was taking advantage of what was then a current news story to scam a few bucks out of a credulous buyer. Even if it's an authentic antique forgery, it's not worth $500. At the time of writing, some poor idiot has bid $499.99 for this thing, with almost a week to go.

As the guy who sold me Alan Turing's iPad said, you have to be careful because there are lots of dodgy people out there.

I have razors that are owned By the one and only William H Barber,They are priceless

The autograph looks like it was done last year by a seven year old with an exacto! It also looks like the razor has been cut short or the scales are way two long.

Avoid it like the plague is my suggestion!

Hi everyone,
Good news; I bought (2) nice straight razors. The first is a Boker from Germany with the white handle and the second was made by Lovell’s Leader in Indiana. Both are in great shape with intact scales and no bites out of the steel. I “think” I did ok on the Boker by only paying $19.00 and might have paid a little too much on the Lovell’s Leader at $35.00. I have never heard of Lovell’s Leader but since Lovell is also my last name I figured the “cool factor” was worth the gamble. (Has anyone ever heard of that maker?)
While both seem incredible sharp to me; I know they aren’t and will be shipping them off for re-honing and sharpening. Does anyone have any recommendations on who does a good job with that? Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
I also checked the Jesse James razor and saw that some one has bid $499.00 already….amazing…
Thank you again for all the help and have a great week!

Look to the classifieds here on SRP. There are lots of "tried and true" service providers that perform great work.

It sounds like you made some interesting purchases, be sure to post with pics in the show and tell forum so we can all enjoy! Keep an eye out for your IXL they are great razors and eventually one comes along at a reasonable price.

Best

And the "Jesse James" razor sold for $610. Ouch.

I have one with a connection to Elvis

it went to Memphis with me.....

Any Takers?