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

Hello everyone.

I've been doing a lot of reading and lurking for the past few weeks.

While I am not yet ready to jump into straight razor shaving, I wanted to ask a few questions concerning used straights commonly
found in antique stores and estate sales.

Last weekend, for example, I encountered several old straight razors that appeared to have very little visible damage and wear.
Aside from the obvious examples of rusting, pitting, broken edges and damaged scales, what sort of guidelines do you use when
evaluating the general robustness and quality of a razor? What types of tell-tell signs set off warning sounds in your mind (and
perhaps, why should these issues raise concern?)

I understand that "value" is a subjective term and so much of the judgment variables depend on the eye of the beholder. What I am
looking for is a set of general guidelines which will allow me to judge if the razor is worthy of learning on (for honing pratice)
and perhaps if a razor warrants additional consideration as a possible addition into a daily shaving collection.
I don't seek to become an expert, but a few set of guidlines will allow me to potentially spot a wholesome purchase, or perhaps if
I am really lucky, the ability to spot a truly unique opportunity.

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(Also, if you could offer a few pointers such as how to identify and spot characteristics that would identify a rare find, I would
appreciate that as well. Oftentimes at estate auctions, very few people in attendance know much of anything concerning straight
razors.)

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I thank you for your assistance.

-joedy

Joedy, difficult questions to answer.

If you have a good camera I would suggest you take a few pics and post them, if they are good enough quality pics we can advise as best we can.

Also check out the thread in for sale etc. Bill (Urleebird) started a great thread concerning quality of adds people place etc..

Gary

Joedy,

As Gary mentioned, it's a difficult question to answer. You have to devote some time to learning about razors in general and with that comes the knowledge of what's good and what's not.

For me, other than rust, pitting, chips, nicks, etc, one of the things I look for is hone wear on the the spine. It can be a good indicator as to how much it's been used over its life time. Another thing I look at is if the edge is even. In other words, has more been taken off the toe or heel, giving the razor a smile or a frown.

If the razor has little hone wear, an even edge, has a minimal amount of rust or pitting, then chances are it's a pretty decent razor.

Ed

Joedy,

If I may throw in my $.02 (feel free to dismiss it), I would order a razor from Lynn that is honed properly so you can feel what a good razor shaves like. If you buy a razor from a pawn shop, it may be a wonder razor, but unless you can hone it to perfection, you will most probably be very unhappy with straight razor shaving.

you can also check out:
http://www.shavingshop.com
http://www.classicshaving.com

But if you are on a budget, or not sure you want to commit to SR shaving I would strongly suggest you PM Lynn or check you Bill's website http://www.billysblades.com

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

If they won't provide you with better pictures and the ones they posted are very fuzzy and give you short curt reply "item condition is in the description". See #1

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Originally Posted by EdinLA44

As Gary mentioned, it's a difficult question to answer. You have to devote some time to learning about razors in general and with that comes the knowledge of what's good and what's not.

Ed

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I'd like to thank everyone for the time and kind answers.

I would love to learn more about these razors, but it seems like much of the information concerning them are spread out or at least seems to be out of print. (This sounds like a fascinating read. If anyone has a copy, I'd love to pay to borrow it.)

Are there certain actions that can be done that would indicate certain features of these blades? (I am envisioning the try of scraping pearls against your teeth to check for imitation pearls being offered as real ones.)

To date, I have learned that certain celluoids have a "vinegary" odor. How can you easily differientiate between, say, cow bone and ivory? Or celluoid and plastic?


Some good comments that I have read here (and elsewhere) is to look for uneven blade wear.

This is confusing since I remember reading the Barber's manual that the foot of the blade (closest to the hinge pin) should be a little bowed out. Which is really the truth? A true straight edge all of the way or a slight bow near the foot?


Part of our general presumptions is that, "they just don't make quality things like they used to." As a general rule, I have found this to be true in our disposable, capitalistic American culture. Were there certain manufacturers (which are no longer around) that had a reputation and a legacy of having made very high quality steel in their razors? Where there certain shops whose quality and durability has proven the test of time?


Trust me, I have taken the advice to heart concerning contacting the Hone Masters concerning assistance. One of the reasons that I have been taking my time is that I enjoy learning about these items and that I have been budgeting for the necessary items that I will require in order to eventually be self sufficient.
(I am also currently a beginning DE shaver, so some of my budget is being set aside to pay for creams and such.)

I suppose that this is the greatest allure of SR shaving: the idea that I can still maintain a high quality shave while being free of the whims of the large manufacturers is very alluring.



Thank you, again, for taking a few moments to share your thoughts.

I, too, think that this would make an excellent "sticky" thread with the collective knowledge that we can all contribute. It might, indeed, become the defacto Straight Razor Buying Guide.

-joedy


ps (and a note to the Moderators) I just realized that I have accidentally posted this thread in both the General and the Newbies forum. Last evening I kept receiving error messages when I was trying to post to this forum. Somehow I ended up posting in both places. I apologize for the mistake.

There is a copy of The Razor Anthology on ebay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/The-Razor-Anth...QQcmdZViewItem

not cheap Hope I find one at the Fairs!