Thread: Price vs Value?

I'm bidding on a Fox razor hone on Ebay and have been outbid at 80 bucks. I'm trying to decide if its worth it to go any higher, or just save my money and buy something less collectible, and more usable. Like maybe a Jnat?

I have about 45 minutes to make up my mind to bid higher or not!

Opinions Please!

I don't know what a Fox hone is. If it's a barber hone, I'd say it's worth about $35 max, but that's just what it's worth to me. If it's a finisher and it's at $80, I'd say give it a rest. That's more than the Naniwa 12k already, and with the Naniwa you know exactly what you are getting.

I'd be curious to see a link at some point so I know what you are talking about (if it's not a barber hone, then disregard my whole post).

Did you read the "What hone(s) do I need?" article in the Wiki? People were perfectly fine with Norton 4/8k combo stones for something like USD 50 for many years. I'd rather shave with a razor that was honed by Lynn on one of these than with anything I have honed on one of my hones - it is practice that matters, not the hone.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

I'd be curious to see a link at some point so I know what you are talking about (if it's not a barber hone, then disregard my whole post).

Vintage Fox No.44 Razor Sharpening Water Stone / Hone - eBay (item 180467686799 end time Feb-16-10 14:24:50 PST)


Its kind of like an Esher hone I believe.

And I HAVE an 8k Norton. but whats wrong with checking out new and unknown stones? =D

Yup, disregard my last post. This auction is a mix of performance and collectability.

Hi Holli, I'm a fellow upstater. Pleased to make your aquaintance.
Do you think you could offer me your opinion on this stone/price? I not so smart in this area.

I have no idea what it would be worth, but I wouldn't pay that much for it. At this point, it is a question of what you are willing to pay. If I had millions of dollars, I'd bid up to $500 just so I could own one, but I have far less than millions of dollars, so I'd probably bow out around $50. Then again, I already have a vintage Thurry, so maybe I'd stop at less.

Then I shall be happy enough to know, that I forced some collector who probably will just sit it on a shelf, to pay more money than he migh otherwise have done. =D

Lets hear it for Estate sales of past collectors who enable us to find great deals in the future!

Magpie, when it comes to razors, hones, and other related things the market is quite a lot different than it is with most any other item. Most of these items are used and are being recovered. As such there is a wide range of availablity, conditions, and collector appeal.

I would encourage you to do a lot of reading to understand the products you're looking at and be able to decide for yourself what that item is worth TO YOU. After all, that is what counts here... To some people that particular stone might be worth a couple hundred dollars; to others, it might be worth less than fifty.

I am in no way putting you down here. I did exactly the same thing when I was new at this... I bought as much as I could get my hands on without knowing the value of any of it. The perceived value to me was based upon what others were willing to pay.
As I've educated myself about different things I can tell you for certain that there are items which I will not pay even close to the going rate for. There are other items that I really want that I'd be willing to pay quite a lot more than the going rate for, to get my hands on the right specimen. But... Those are the value of those items to me.

Oh, and FWIW, with 8 minutes left, that stone is worth at least $105.50 to someone out there... Are you willing to bid beyond that knowing that it's worth that to someone, but having no idea why it's worth that to them?

Sorry for the rant... I've been thinking a lot about this regarding the value of items, and you just happened to be the first guy to post a question about something.