600 razors....

[randydance062449]

Hello all,

On Tuesday I will be taking a road trip to inspect a collection of 600 plus straight razors that are for sale. Now I know that I do not have anywhere near the experience of a bunch of you guys so I am asking for some help. This guy and his brother bought these two years ago from a collector.
He has the misconception that they are worth $20 each on average. I told him that he was rather optimistic.

I am aware of what to look for in terms of physical condition. But what razors are truely collectable? Should I simply make an inventory and then post it. Do any of you have a wish list?
How would you handle this?

All comments welcome,

[urleebird]

...Do any of you have a wish list?

Please Please Please... Find me a set of scales with a lobster on them. Also one with a curly snake. And one with an eagle with wings spread over a red, white, and blue shield.

Let me know. Get in touch with me. I'll give you my cell number if you have questions while you are there...

Little Valley Case's XX

Winchester

Mother of Pearl Handles... they will be sectioned and that's ok. MOP doesn't come long enought to cover the entire scale.

7 Day Sets... especially if they are ivory or MOP

Other sets ... 2's and 3's... ivory and MOP

Wade Butcher's especially with carved bone or ivory or MOP

Razors with gunstock scales

Razors with monkey tails

Kane, Union, Elliot, Standard Knife Co, which are all Case Brothers endeavors. I want the fancy handled stuff. Candy stripes, Rope scales (especially mottled), Black flowing hair scales, and any over-sized razors.
Genco is also Case. They are good if they are in pretty good shape.

Razors with photos in the scales

Basically, any razor with fancy scales.



I have to go take a cold shower now

[Lynn]

Randy, an inventory would be great. Look forward to seeing it. Stop by the chat tonight and we can talk about it there some as well. Lynn

[Chaaaz]

[quote="randydance062449"]Hello all,

On Tuesday I will be taking a road trip to inspect a collection of 600 plus straight razors that are for sale.....[snip]

****>> Six HUNDRED raz.........*thump*

[randydance062449]

Hello all,

The road trip was rather interesting but kinda disappointing. It took 5 hours of driving time and 6 hours of looking at razors for a few seconds on each razor. I took 3 short breaks during the 6 hours.
Over 1/2 of the razors were "junk" as far as I was concerned. Badly worn blades on the most of them with plain black handles. Two seemed to be from the mid 1850's. One was a Wade & Butcher with Japanese or Chinese characters on the blade. About 10 "Choppers" of various widths. One "picture" or "novelty" razor. One with 3 color nude/rope scales and two with the same but two color.
One Wonderedge in "Good" condition (minor pitting). A couple of tortise shell , several bone and some horn scaled razors. Many fancy molded scale razors and a few mottled/marbled scales.
A handful of pristine razors. One pristine 4/8ths matched pair in original box. One matched pair of Wade & Butcher 4/8ths frame back razors in the original custom box. These are really cool.
One Wade & Butcher that was very unusual. It looked like a "chopper" but the lower 1/3 of the blade had been ground to be the thickness of a frameback blade. It is called a "W&B Featheredge concave razor". Quite interesting.

This deal is not yet put together so you all will have to wait until things jell. I will probably be acting as a broker for the seller. When, and if, everything comes together I will let you know.

It was a very interesting experience. I have never handled so many razors at one time.
The current owner bought them from one of the premier antique tool collectors. There wqas no rust on any of them but there was abundant pitting and stains/patina. The tool collector had oiled each of the razors once per year but made no effort to refurbish anything. I assume that he had bought the razors from other tool dealers over the years.

If any of you have an opportunity to do something like this I can heartily recommend it. It was quite an education.