Thread: What Do You Think Is the Rarest Straight Razor?

There are quite a few razors that are, this far, known in only one single specimen.
any more rare than that is hard to imagine until new information pops up

My C-Mon-Filarmonica in 8/8 is but one of many examples of this...

As to the lowest production numbers on vintage razors, who knows?

Originally Posted by Birnando

As to the lowest production numbers on vintage razors, who knows?

That is exactly the problem with straights and determining a fact based definition of what rare is. Just because I haven't seen another or only a few specimens over a period of time does not necessarily mean it is rare. The possibility is there but in no way can be substantiated.

Straights in their hay-day were merely common mass produced everyday tools not even serial numbered. Where would you even start to verify the rarity of such an item even if complete factory production records were available. Rarity is just a best informed guess at the most extrapolated from a scanty information base.

Bob

Another thing on this topic (of marketing and selling).

If it's labeled "Limited Edition" or "Collector's Item"

then, it's quite likely _not_.

(hint, look at "sold items" for ideas as to current values of anything.)

Rarest? The one that I'm able to hone and strop to a level where I could got a BBS in 3 passes!

Let me know if you find it!

The rarest razor is the one that barely kissed the grill

Back to the original question asked by the OP:

I believe it would probably be a "Benjamin Huntsman" razor from around ca. 1740...The first narrow-bladed folding straight razors were first listed by a Sheffield, England manufacturer in 1680. By 1740, Benjamin Huntsman was making straight razors complete with decorated handles and hollow-ground blades made from cast steel, using a process he himself invented.

Either that or an Egyptian Bronze Age razor from around 1600BC....

WP34