Thread: Restoration vs. Collectible Value

Okay, I'm trying to get started using a straight for shaving and recently purchased two "antique/Vintage" razors. One is a Genco that has had some obvious restoration attempts and the other an H. Boker 5/8 King Cutter in complete original condition. I have commenced the restoration of the genco but have put off on the boker because I don't want to destroy the value should it be worth something.

The amazing thing about the Boker is that not only is it in the original box and in fair to good shape it is still in the orignal paper sleeve with the "how to shave" instructions.

Can anyone help me decide weather or not I should proceed restoring or should I leave it as is and find a collector that my appreciate it a little more than I.

There are three types of Straight Razor collectors:

The first are the Scale collectors and that is exactly what they are after, those rare styles of scales, they will tear apart other razors to get to those scales they don't really concern themselves with the History they are only concerned with the scales and their value (which can be quite high)

The next are the Razor collectors they want all original and the want to lock it up in a pretty case and look at it

And last you find us the Shavers, we want razors that shave we want the best steel anything else is secondary to us, nice, pretty, cool, but secondary
Now there are some of us that combine all three of these into one, there are some that will shave with rust or patina on the blades and only hone them and go...
There are others that only want bright shiny steel on their Hollywood faces.. All this is personal, as to value that is a moving target, so only you can decide where you are going with your razors...

I don't think from what I've seen that straight collecting has reached a point where a mint box with instructions adds to the value unlike for instance a Gillette Fatboy DE with original packaging. In that case the price can increase markedly.