Thread: $500 to buy a razor, what would you buy

Hypothetically speaking $500 falls in your lap and you can buy 1 Str8, would you buy a custom, restore, vintage?? Pictures/Details welcomed!!

The customs that I would want, cost a bit more than $500.00,,,so a custom is off the table. I would surf the sites of the members here who are vendors and look for NOS vintage razors; you could probably get 3 nice ones for that money.

A couple NOS Dubl Duck Goldedges would be me. As an alternative I'd find me a professionally restored Wade and Butcher Meat Chopper and a uber sweet Swedish Frameback. Call me crazy but I just don't think I could justify spending $500 on a single razor.

For just one razor, a Fili 14 or Heljestrand MK 33 in near NOS condition would be my vote

Originally Posted by silver4

For just one razor, a Fili 14 or Heljestrand MK 33 in near NOS condition would be my vote

Boom and boom. Perhaps and nicely restored big Sheffield.
For a custom, there are some up and comers/newer/lesser known makers who will take real good care of you for $500.
As Hirlau mentioned, most of the well known, established makers would come in above that.

There's loads of nice vintage razors around for that kind of money if you keep your eyes open, I could have purchased a NOS Henckels 17 Firodur 8/8 last week for less money a magnificent looking razor, I've also seen a few NOS Filarmonicas Novodur para professional and a EPBD selling for less money in the last few weeks, I would say their value will increase substantially over a custom razor in the next few years a better investment in my opinion and you are having the joy of using them.

I think I'd go for a Filarmonica or a vintage Thiers Issard. Both are incredible all round razors.

I would buy a very nice $100-150 max. vintage (Solingen or Japanese) and then have $300-250 left for something I would actually need.

Or maybe, MAYBE, I'd splash $250 for an actually rare razor. That is, if I could find one, because rare razors are hard to find. Filarmónicas and Heljestrands are not.

Something like this Heljestrand, C V "MK No 32" 6/8 - Straight Razor Place Library
but $500 may only be able to fit the ivory version.

The reason is that they are consistently great, so no gambling if you get a 'good one', the aesthetics is neither plain and boring, nor gaudy over the top, the quality is superb and you won't find it in current manufacturers unless you want to go custom at the top guys in a completely different price point. Filarmonicas may shave similarly well, but in comparison they are a pedestrian everyday razor vs. high-quality luxury. And it's my perfect size, I much prefer it to any of its bigger and smaller versions.

Being tighter than skin on a weiner, find a nice $50 razor and pocket the rest.

Bob