Thread: Ebay Discussion...

I was just having a discussion with a member and it made me think
about questions that come up all the time regarding Ebay straight razors.

What is Mint? To some, it is a new razor. It is one that has never
been honed or used. That is my interpretation as well. I expect no
prior sharpening, no rust or pitting and basically a razor that looks
like it just came out of the wrapper. To others however, it is a razor
that is like new and maybe has some honing or use. This would
certainly be a question worth asking a seller. Don't get mad at
sellers who advertise Mint as most don't really know and if a razor
looks great, to them it's mint. If one has been used or sharpened and
is still like new, to many it is probably near mint. Minty may also
mean a razor that is in just excellent condition.

Is a razor Mint if it has been rehandled? Some of the German guys are
selling new old stock razors with handles that do not match the
blades. Are these Mint? I would think so. I'm not sure what that does
for the collectibility of that razor however. Good thing most of us
are after the great shaves. You can bet though if a Boker is mint, it
will have the Boker logo on the handle. Same for JA Henckels. There
will be the two little men or Friodur or Emperor or something
indicating the match up. Usually when you have one with fancy bolsters
or a plain handle, it has been put on after the fact and the razor is
likely used.

Just like everything else with ebay, it is a great idea to ask all the
questions you can think of from the seller. Is there rust, nicks,
cracks, pitting, tarnish or cracking on the blade or handle? Is there
an indication of sharpening on the blade edge or blade shoulders? IF
advertised as Mint, ask if it has ever been sharpened or does it have
signs of use.

If you see an ebay razor that appears to have wear on the shoulders,
that would be a razor to stay away from. They are a pain to hone. That
being said, if you want some practice, there are some old shavers on
ebay that can still be had for a minimal amount of money that can be
salvaged into great shavers.

Have fun.

Lynn

It's been driving me nuts lately to see people using the word "mint" whenever they feel that the item is in good condition. In every collectible hobby I've participated in, "mint" means new, unused, in the same condition as that in which it left the factory.

"Minty" seems to have entered the lexicon in the last year, mainly through eBay, and appears to mean basically the same thing as the old term "near-mint".

The question about rehandling is an interesting one. For the sake of discussion, suppose I buy two razors (an old Wade and Butcher, used, and a brand-new Dovo) and I put new scales on them.

I guess you could describe both razors as mint Piper razors--they're in the condition in which they left my "factory". However, it feels slightly misleading in the case of the W&B--"newly restored" might be more accurate. "Mint" still carries a notional virginity with it, I think, and so people may expect that a "mint" item has never been used in any sense.

As you say, people's expectations differ. Always good to check!

I thought the term "mint condition" was coined* by currency collectors to reflect the condition that coins are in when they are freshly minted. Once they are circulated, they are immediately no longer in mint condition.




*all puns intended

I am breathless with all this talk of mints! That is, indeed, the origin.

I've been trying to find another pun to add using "struck", but it's just not coming. Sigh.

Lynn,

Thanks for the thoughts. An excellent post. It would be nice if the different terms were set in stone, so to speak. Doubt if that will happen.

"Minty"? Is that like "a hint of mint"?

Whe I first saw the word "minty" used I figured it was a typo. People with giant sausage fingers were hitting the "t" and "y" key at the same time on the keyboard!

Hahahaha!

Emil

In guitar world, mint describes a guitar that is used, but in excelent condition. Played maybe once a month, lightly. The term to describe never used factory like guitar is NOS (or New Old Stock). I think these two descriptions are fit for razors too...

A mint comic book is one that has probably been read, but maintained in perfect condition.

X

The term "mint" is more or less the same for coins, too. If a razor were never used, honed or removed from its original packaging, I guess it could be called a "proof" razor.

Not exactly. Proof coins are specially minted by a different process than normal coins.
Perhaps the "mint" culprit is the used car world- they bandy that word about quite a bit.