Thread: Home run or strike out?

I was making my rounds today looking for good old antique straights that I like and would be decent projects. After several different stops I was thinking about going home because the only thing I had found was a dubl duck with a chunk broken off the heel of the scales on one side. The duck wasn't anything special just a plain jane with a little potential but the owner wanted entirely too much for the thing. He was way way beyond retail price basically asking for the retail price of a much nicer razor in much better condition. After that I considered going home because this was my 5th or 6th stop with no luck. On my way home I spotted a little antique shop that I had never seen before so I figured why not. As I walked in the place it was screaming victory because it had that type of antique store ambiance of old dusty books and old manly tools and knives. I asked the couple running the place if they had any old straight razors and the gentleman said that he had a few but he didn't know where they were exactly.The lady suddenly spoke up and told him where the box of them were.When he returned he had 3. Two of which were just older razors that were either irreparable or just a cheap old razor that had seen better days. One stuck out to me though because it was a Simmons Hardware Co and it was in great condition with a matching box that was clearly very old but the writing on the box was very nice and clear the top had a hole in it clearly from being dropped or having something layed on it. I have a soft spot for Simmons Hardware razors because my first was a barbers pet that I had restored and still use pretty much as my go to because of the exceptional way it shaves and keeps an amazing edge. I ended up with the razor to make it short after some haggling and for a great price. After getting it home and doing some very minor polishing and honing I was just curious about what I had bought. Apparently the razor I bought is a No8 special and is a rare desirable find. I have seen several online selling for a ridiculous amount more than what I paid and thought it was worth. I can't find much information about it and the little bit that I have is pretty vague. So did I actually get lucky or am I just seeing something close? I will put up some pictures of it when I have a little time to take some. If anyone knows anything about this razor model please give me some input.

Holey long paragraph batman lol.

You got lucky if for no other reason than you like the blade and got it at a reasonable price! Win!

Congrats!!

We don't put values on things here, but post a photo. Someone might be able to tell you a little more about it than you already know. That, and we all like photos .

Sorry for the long paragraph lol. I typically don't pay much attention when I type on my phone. I'm not looking for a valuation and you can see by my post that I like it. I really like Simmons Hardware Co because my first vintage razor that I bought, restored, honed, and shaved with was a Simmons barbers pet. I am just curious as to how common the No.8 special model is. From what I have read it seems to be unique in the fact that it was made in the United States and pretty much all the other blades were manufactured in Germany. I was hoping someone might know more about it just in the off chance someone else collects Simmons.

I have one as well, found it in an antique store. I honestly don't think they're terribly unique however. Simmons Hardware was was a pretty large retailer. By the early 20th century we were producing a pretty great number of razors in the US (Torrey, Ontario, GenCo, etc.). Also keep in mind that in the world of straight razors, rare does not necessarily mean valuable, and valuable does not necessarily mean rare.

So in a nutshell, nice little shaver? Yes. Rarity? Maybe not. But a good little shaver!