I keep reading about people finding vintage razors for cheap. I've been keeping my eyes out for vintage DE's and SR's are they mostly found in antique shops and how often are they found?
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I keep reading about people finding vintage razors for cheap. I've been keeping my eyes out for vintage DE's and SR's are they mostly found in antique shops and how often are they found?
I have bought 19 on Ebay in the past 2 months. If you are not honing yet try wippeddog.com and he will send you a razor shave ready for I think it was 43 including shipping.My razor is very well done,packed in Vaseline and has instructions.Cheap is ok but you also need a real shaver. good luck out there...Dave
I actually just got a razor from Larry. I want to learn to home and I figured something cheap is a good place to start. I also have a soft place for vintage things. It's half the reason I started down the slippery slope that is wet shaving.
I'm lucky to have many antique stores in my area, and have been lucky to find many quality razors from these stores. They tend to be in small towns outside of the city. Especially on the way to cottage country. I find Persistence really pays off when it comes to antique stores. If you go one time and there's nothing, go again in a month, and then again, and again. They're always topping up their stock. Also, a lot of times they will have advertisement at the till for local auctions, antique shows and other antique stores. Check those out, there might be something happening close to you.
Let me also say this..... For every good razor you find, you'll find 10 that you need to walk away from. Over honed on the toe, over honed on the heal, major rust issues, cell rot, cracked blade, chipped blade.... the list goes on. Make sure you have an idea of what a good vintage blade should look like.
But like whats been said above, I wouldn't buy my first straight from an antique store. Get yourself something that you know will have no issues, from a reliable source that is shave ready.
That's great to hear! Learn your brands before you go.Solingen Germany and Sheffield England generally won't steer you wrong.Watch for chips,splits and bad hinges. Splits are sometimes hard to see and you could lose a lot of meat off your blade and end up with a shave-et at best.Some later straights are chrome plated and maybe named close to a real brand so stay clear!!! Well happy hunting:)...Dave
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Originally Posted by sking52
Ask Dennis the barber. I think he has an electronic razor detector. If there is a blade under some rock, he seems to find it easy enough............:chapeau
Hunting razors in the wild or on Ebay is not the easiest way to get razors. You need to learn what to look for and what to avoid and be repaired to take the occasional bath. For the beginner you are best off with buying from the classifieds here. Most that are found in the wild and on Ebay are either pricey or need work. The best deals I have seen are here, on a semi regular basis. Just keep an eye out. There is a guide here for buying razrs. Brands to avoid and conditions to look for. If you really want to go down that road, read through it and then watch and examine ads on ebay or look through antique shops. Don't buy just look and see if you can see what is being talked about in the thread on Ebay buying. Once you think you have a handle on condition try buying. I spend a lot of time at it, so I'm not sure how much of a deal I get for the time invested. I do enjoy it though so I don't feel it is a waste.
I travel far and wide. I cant drive by a antique store without stopping. I check with the local antique shops offen and let them know what your looking. They call me when they get some in.
You can sometimes find old straight razors in deceased estates (which might go to auction or just get listed in your local classifieds).
Its hit or miss. I can go a year with not finding a nice razor. Then bam! Its like finding a treasure chest. Sure I see many razors. Mostly not worth the effort. Flea markets and antique stores.
Depends of your culture, but besides ebay, classified, and antique shops, the best way in my humble opinion is garage sales/flea markets.
French people are particularly fond of this kind of sales, to the point that we have several websites listing the closest antiques markets, flea markets and garage sales.
But so do you :)
Savannah Garage Sales, Yard Sales & Estate Sales by Map | Savannah, GA | gsalr.com
Like said above :
- It's about persistance : while finding razors in such sales can be possible, finding a good one is another thing... Therefore you have to go hunting often
- It's about knowledge : you have to know beforehand how to correctly identify a good razor, in terms of brand, origin, and condition
- It's about skills : once bought, you have to thoroughly sterilize the razor, then bring it back to life
- It's not cheap : between hones, medical sterilizers, and other tools you may need, it costs a fortune
But well, on a French forum we are several doing that and have a dedicated section for the sole purpose of "flea markets". It's all good fun, and once in a time, a rare find :)
I have never had a problem finding razors in my area of East Central Illinois. "St. Joseph" near Champaign Urbana. We have several antique shops that about always have them & there is a great monthly indoor Flea Market"Gordyville USA" that I can always find a couple of good blades at.
I have several vendors that know what I am looking for in both knives & razors. I have even found a few good blades at garage sales.
Dave"Slawman"Huffman:gl:
Between local flea markets and ebay, there's a lot of reasonably priced vintage razors if you are patient. I kept scoring vintage Sheffield razors for silly low prices in the past years but seem to have exhausted the local supply.
The latest Sheffield razor I bought, I should receive it early next week:
Attachment 179285
Attachment 179286
Attachment 179287
It will require a clean-up but I expect to shave with it within the next two weeks.
They're like grapes for me. They tend to come in bunches that are few and far between.
I found a bunch in an antique mall a few weeks back. Looked at 60 razors ranging in price from $25 to $75 each.
I wouldn't have given $25 for the whole pile as they were all either worn out, poorly honed, rusted, cracked, or snaggle toothed.
There were two nice pairs of scales and a few decent sets but that was about all I saw.
I left that bunch for the next guy to ponder.
I have been having pretty good luck on Ebay.I just got a new Dovo of 62.00..
I just don't like buyinga razor off of E-bay. My eye sight ain't all that great so when I go out to sales or flea markets waht ever venue I always carry 2 things.1. A x7 loup & my Dollar Tree +325 reading glasses.Really I never leave home whith out either. Can't get up close & personal with out them.
I picked up a J. Schneider & Co.straight Made in Germany called "The Peoria" Schneider was a barber supply in Peoria. Didn't look like anything special. Anyway brought it home, ran it over my Koken horse hide strop & found the best shave I have EVER had. Local Antique shop. At another shop here in town I have found several straights & hones & strops. I see no need to spend big bucks on a new factory or custom razor. I like the older ones better.
Slawman
One thing to understand is that the prices paid so long ago (even one year) are not often to be found. The prices are going up because many antique dealers look at the 'bay and price accordingly. That said, If the item sits on the shelf for a long time, a regular customer of the store can usually make a reasonable offer and get it for a bit above the dealer's cost. A new antique vender in a mall may have razors priced very low. A dealer retiring can also be a good source of a deal as they are getting rid of their stock.
I am in an area of very few razor buyers. So the dealers are moving to sell on the 'bay.
Some malls have such high booth / showcase rent the sellers are being squeezed to death to make the rent. Small towns are usually a bit cheaper and sellers are a bit more ready to bargain.
I will close by saying; buy your first razor from the classifieds or a well known seller.
~Richard
I will say I can find good razors around here in the $20.00 to $40.00 range around me all the time. That said I have been involved with knives & knife making since the early 80'sso I have an idea what to look for. Honing a straight is a whole different animal from sharpening & honing a knife. I find it all very interesting.
Slawman
