Thread: A new buyers guide - Things to be aware of and to look out for.

I think this thread has great potential... once it takes off.
We need a "how to buy a (used) razor" guide and especially an ebay guide. Should be sticky, too, so people don't make the mistakes I made.

Here are a few of my tips:

1. When in doubt, walk away. If there's something about the razor or the seller you don't like, don't buy it. There will always be more razors, can you say the same about your money and time?

2. Be aware of the amount of restoration that can be necessary for a particular razor. If you don't have the time, will or skill, you may be better off sticking to new (only from Thiers-Issard, Dovo, Filarmonica) or new old stock. Of course there are some excellent condition used razors out there, sold in "shave ready" condition. Especiallly here on SRP.
See http://www.billysblades.com/Mint.htm

3. Get a close-up shot of the blade if you don't have one. You have to be able to see the entire edge. If the seller doesn't agree to provide one, see 1.
Ask for the width of the blade. If the razor looks wider than it is, it has been shortened.

4. Disoloration, black spots and such are relatively harmless and can be polished away. Rust is slightly more serious, it is difficult to distinguish surface rust from deep rusting, so if you see rust, assume there is pitting underneath. Pitting doesn't look good, but may take a lot of elbow grease to sand away. You may be able to live with it.
If there is excessive rusting around the scales, there could be celluloid rust.

Rust and escpecially chipping on the edge means you will need to do some major rehoning of the razor. If the chips are 1/32" deep, your razor will be at least 1/32" narrower afterwards. Also, depending on how you do it, there will be more hone wear on the spine.
If the razor is cracked, better stay away. or run.
Watch the hone wear on the spine. The wider the shiny strip on the spine is, the more this razor has been honed and the less life it has in it. Also, at some point it just doesn't hone right any more. Uneven hone wear is another bad sign. If the strip on the spine is of unequal thickness, this razor will be difficult to hone. This also applies to the edge of the razor. Ideally it should be quite narrow and of equal thickness from heel to toe (for a hollow ground blade).

6. If you can try the razor, make sure it closes without the edge touching the scales, and that there is not much lateral play (none would be good).

7. When in doubt, walk away.


Any of the more experienced guys want to add anything?

Redwoood