Thread: What to look for in a ebay razor

Can someone direct me to the link for what to look for when buying a bay razor or a antique razor in general.. I remember seeing something that glen posted.. Been around a ill bit .. So what I look for is edge condition hone wear .. The heel and the toe in comparison to each other.. Condition of scales.. Pitting.. Of the blade.. And knowing that black marks on the blade are bad and grey is ok.. Any other tips..

My technique is:

1. Find a 10/8 or 11/8 GB Anchor razor, restored on Ebay.
2. Make sure my bank account has $1300.00 in it.
3. Start bidding.

Lol.. Laughing out loud..

A good pointer to look for would be look at his feedback score and see if he as sold any previous straight razors and just see what the buyer is saying about his purchase is a pretty good pointer, I've sold a few at some knock down prices foolish me, but what always makes me feel a little better about the sale is what they've said after they have received the razor in my feedback, still they should have bid more.:-)

Originally Posted by Airportcopper

Can someone direct me to the link for what to look for when buying a bay razor or a antique razor in general.. I remember seeing something that glen posted.. Been around a ill bit .. So what I look for is edge condition hone wear .. The heel and the toe in comparison to each other.. Condition of scales.. Pitting.. Of the blade.. And knowing that black marks on the blade are bad and grey is ok.. Any other tips..

Try this link, it should help!

http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...tml#post736914

Regards,

Howard

Fortunately for sellers I find that many buyers on ebay will still leave positive feedback despite the sellers false claim that the razor is shave ready.

For folks that can hone this is not an issue, but for a newbie, 100% positive feedback is still not enough assurance. Like Celticcrusader mentioned, I would suggest that the buyer look at the detailed feedback, if there are specific comments praising the quality of the honing, then I would say it would be a safe purchase for a newbie.

Originally Posted by Badgister

Fortunately for sellers I find that many buyers on ebay will still leave positive feedback despite the sellers false claim that the razor is shave ready.

For folks that can hone this is not an issue, but for a newbie, 100% positive feedback is still not enough assurance. Like Celticcrusader mentioned, I would suggest that the buyer look at the detailed feedback, if there are specific comments praising the quality of the honing, then I would say it would be a safe purchase for a newbie.

Respectfully, I disagree. Absent an empirical, universal definition for "shave ready", when I use the term I mean exactly this: I can give myself a DFS -- if not BBS -- with the razor. Period.

People will claim that getting a "good" shave is all about the edge. Poppycock. More than anything, it's all about technique. Technique consists of:

• knowing your face (structure and geography)
• knowing your beard (directions of growth)
• knowing how to prep your beard
• knowing how to wield a razor (general)
• knowing how to wield that razor (specific)
• putting it all together in a methodical and deliberate manner (patience isn't just a Virtue)

None of my razors have ever passed an HHT, nor will they; my "gold standard" is popping arm hair.

If a guy wants a "shave ready" razor, he can either pay the freight and send it out for honing, or learn to do it himself. Alternatively, he can use what he's got, as-is, and afterward clean-up/touch-up with a DE or SE razor (nothing wrong with that, unless he decides there is).

WRT the OP's question: What's important to me when buying an eBay or antique razor is to disinfect it, before "passing Go".

I think this is what you were looking for
http://straightrazorpalace.com/newre...6620&noquote=1

Originally Posted by Airportcopper

Can someone direct me to the link for what to look for when buying a bay razor or a antique razor in general.. I remember seeing something that glen posted.. Been around a ill bit .. So what I look for is edge condition hone wear .. The heel and the toe in comparison to each other.. Condition of scales.. Pitting.. Of the blade.. And knowing that black marks on the blade are bad and grey is ok.. Any other tips..

I think you got it down, obviously practicing your ability to decern the characteristics is the hard part, and does involve purchasing razors.

Hone wear is a big one for me, and edge condition. Age spots not so much, but granted there is a point where oxidation becomes to much and i wont bid on it (probably lot less then most people are willing to buy as well)

I like being able to get a razor, spend a day polishing, then hone and shave with it. but that's just me

Originally Posted by RezDog

I think this is what you were looking for
http://straightrazorpalace.com/newre...6620&noquote=1

Link isn't working