RAD hitting me hard right now

I'm currently in the market for a new razor... right now I'm deciding between getting a new 7/8 Hart Steel Square point or one or two vintage blades 7/8 or larger. I know the pros and cons of getting new over vintage, or vintage over new but what I can't seem to figure out is where all of you members here seem to find all of your great vintage razors! It's like you have a magical blessing on you or something haha

So I guess my question for you seasoned sufferers of RAD is this: What is the best place you have found for buying quality old blades? I go to the antique stores locally but never find anything worth the trouble. The classifieds here are great I know, but just haven't seen the ONE, or ones, pop up yet :)

I have to say that I spend a lot of time trolling ebay and watching hundreds of items. Most go high and I never bid, a few go low and I bid but loose 3/4 of those by others with the same plan. I buy a few. I clean them up and make new scales sometimes. Most of what I am looking for is a hopeful that isn't going to break the bank. There were several that I was watching that were in fantastic shape that went crazy cheap, and a couple of beaters that were over the top expensive. There was a restored 7/8 sheffield that went for $76, it is certainly not typical. I have quite a few and am way less interested in just any razor and way more into waiting for a bargain these days. If you look around there are several guys with web sites selling restored razors, in fact some are members here. You could put an ad in the wanted to buy in the classifieds.

I've found a lot of mine here in the classifieds. They can come up and be gone in a flash!! Very discerning buyers here so you have to be vigilant.

Others come up on eBay, but as with all purchases and especially the Bay..... Caveat Emptor!!

Antique stores.....Some seem to have all the luck! :gaah: Me, just like you.

:gl: and hope you find a jewel!! :D

Regards,

Howard :)

RAD bites us all. You try to decide between a new 7/8 blade or two vintage blades then BAM! You suddenly find yourself in possession of three blades, wondering how did this happen? Then the insidious RAD insinuates itself into our brains and we are cruising the bay looking for the elusive McCool Bros double near wedge 9/8 Bengal steel blade. Welcome brother!

That's my issue! Every time I see a good one here it has always just sold. :gaah: and then I too have a big watch list like rezdog but they always seem to get a little too rich for my blood. I'll be keeping my eye out though... Just had a filarmonica go from $100 to over $400 in the span of like 3 hours. Sucks

The classifieds, etsy, and ebay. But when you buy on sites where the sellers, understandably, don't know much about straights, you need to be wary of what you're buying. The vast majority of stuff you see will be broken, junk, overpriced, junk, RSO (razor-shaped-object) etc. You'll also have to get used to every seller believing that a 5/8 hollow razor with black celluloid scales is ultra-rare and has been chased by collectors for years. And that a 1/8" chip can be honed out easily.

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Originally Posted by chapman

That's my issue! Every time I see a good one here it has always just sold. :gaah: and then I too have a big watch list like rezdog but they always seem to get a little too rich for my blood. I'll be keeping my eye out though... Just had a filarmonica go from $100 to over $400 in the span of like 3 hours. Sucks

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You do get some good stuff on there though. I got out-bid on a tamahagane razor with faux-frameback grind which went for <$100. I couldn't as high as I'd liked to, as I'd bought a filly a few days before.

Here it is: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Razo...vip=true&rt=nc

For me, I'm lucky that I live near so many Antique markets, and stores. Most I find are cracked, chipped, and the most, over honed. But most of my razors in my collection have come from antique stores. I have around 30 razors. There were a few I had to have on Ebay, which is only about 5 or 6. I find persistence pays off when searching at these stores.

I have found some nice pieces at antique stores, however I don't live in an area with any antique stores so that is usually a vacation activity. No matter where you shop you will either be putting in time hunting down your prize items or paying a little more. Other than the famous razor guy stopping by your place of work it is just they way it goes.